Design of an Integrated Real-time Information System for Public Commuting in South Africa

Real-time information systems integrate routes, people, and vehicles to provide a transport system that is efficient, safe, and convenient for road users. This is achieved through the provision of information that alerts commuters on traffic-related incidents such as accidents, congestion, and overcrowding. This paper presents the design of an integrated real-time information system for public commuting (IRISPCO) in South Africa. The goal is to use the design as a basis to understand the full scope of expected capabilities of such an important system to alleviate the challenges of public commuting in South Africa. The conceptual design of IRISPCO as informed by requirements elicited from stakeholders are presented. The enabling technologies and the assumptions for the realizations of the system are also discussed.