AUTOMATIC PASSENGER COUNTING (APC): INFRA-RED MOTION ANALYZER FOR ACCURATE COUNTS IN STATIONS AND RAIL, LIGHT-RAIL AND BUS OPERATIONS

The provision and evaluation of data and information regarding actual passenger demand and frequency is of significant importance in conjunction with transit service planning, service optimization, and applications for funds to improve or maintain the operating public transit means. This paper looks at a system for Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) and analysis which allows for collection of accurate boarding and alighting data and subsequent evaluation of stop, trip and route load and analysis. This APC system is provided under the name "Infrared Motion Analyzer (IRMA) and is based on passive, non-radiating infrared technology to detect and count people moving through a door or gate. This article describes the system technical solutions and options, the count accuracy, and the APC data transfer and evolutions.