Three Ways Data and Analytics Can Support Reporting and Compliance

Dr Kerstin Wendt looks at how data and analytics can help with procedural reporting and planning vital to all successful urban transport operations.

1. Extensive data capture: more info = detailed reporting

Integrate analytics with your command-and-control solution to automatically spot, classify and accurately log a huge array of detail in any given scene – movements, colours, vehicle types, shapes, people, clothing etc. A dedicated team watching screens 24/7 could only detect and log a fraction of this information.

Paired with data integrated from mobile applications, which field staff (maintenance, security, platform teams etc.) can use to provide real-time task status and completion updates, this unlocks far greater potential for detailed incident detection and reporting, procedural compliance monitoring and evidentiary review.

2. KPI and statistical analysis: better operational compliance and planning

It’s no good having an extensive pool of data if you don’t know what it means. Your Synergy platform enables you to create customised rules, which can then be applied to all data captured – sometimes referred to as 'dataveillance' – to flag what matters to you.

KPIs based on these rules are presented in the form of dynamic reporting dashboards that can be interrogated at the click of a button. This enables transport operators to quickly and easily understand key operational data, including:

• average incident response times
• occurrence of incident types – maintenance issues, platform overcrowding, suspicious behaviour etc.
• potential safety violations (by passengers or staff)

If safety violations exceed a certain level in a set period, more staff training may be needed. Specific patterns of passenger congestion may indicate that rail schedules need to be reviewed to avoid busy route clashes. In summary, informed decision-making and planning become possible.

3. Redaction of unimportant data: supporting data privacy compliance

AI-driven solutions can help ensure compliance with data protection protocols and regulatory requirements, including GDPR. For instance, sophisticated surveillance tools such as automated facial redaction mean that for any given incident, footage shared and investigated only shows persons of interest.

Also, rather than having team members studying faces from footage covering platforms, ticketing queues or incoming vehicles, using intelligent analytics software to automatically cross-reference faces with person of interest lists makes monitoring of this nature a much less intrusive process.