MISDT (Measuring Impacts of Social Distancing in Transport Interchanges)

During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a combination of existing CCTV cameras and an artificial intelligence analytics platform were used to quantify social distancing at transport facilities and identify any social distancing "hot spots" which would benefit from intervention.

This video-based behavioural analytics approach was trialled at Bolton and Wythenshawe Interchanges and Wigan Bus Station, with the intention of improving safety for all public transport users at these locations. The deployment of Humanising Autonomy's artificial intelligence-powered platform was able to detect levels of adherence to social distancing, the number of people traversing the station, the paths people took through these stations, and areas where passengers were more likely to come into close contact with each other. The software also analysed passenger behaviour such as where passengers tend to spend more time sitting, standing or walking.

This insight enabled TfGM to plan and implement interventions which would seek to improve social distancing, such interventions included laying out one-way systems for pedestrians, altering the schedule with which bus stands were used and providing tailored information to passengers. TfGM are now looking into how similar technology could be rolled out across the network to aid evaluation of policy changes and management of critical scenarios like overcrowding and queuing. The system will also allow TfGM to make data-driven decisions about future facility design and operation to improve passenger experience.

Further information on the trial can be found on the following websites:

• CCTV analysis informs COVID-19 adjustments at Manchester interchanges

• Humanising Autonomy and Transport for Greater Manchester use behaviour analytics to measure impact of social distancing and ease city out of lockdown