IoT Deployment of The Day: Instrumenting Dutch Transit Passengers For Better Flow

One of the top articles being shared in the IoT Conversation is one on the improvements made to public transit in the very crowded but much loved Randstad area of the Netherlands.  By leveraging a mix of infrared sensors, bluetooth and WiFI connectivity, the train system has been successful in monitoring and reacting to the travel patterns of consumers, improving flow and reducing crowding.  It is a wonderful example of the shifts we are starting to see with the deployment of the Internet of Things or this case #internetOfWatchingHumansToImproveTransitFlow.

Many IoT applications look to mount sensors and radios on things that are in motion, something that drives increased battery life and minimal capabilities at the endpoint.  This application in the Netherlands reverses this architecture brilliantly (because we have yet to chip the global population just yet) and now the trains come to us.  Imagine the time shifting that can take place, knowing that when you arrive at the station for what used to be a harrowing commute into the local metropolis, a train will be mustered to meet your needs.  This is a huge improvement over rigid schedules that force the population to converge on a single location in vain hopes of catching the same train into town.

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