Success Story Swiss Federal Railways

Indoor Navigation for Five Major Swiss Train Stations

infsoft GmbH has created the app "SBB - My Station" for Swiss federal railways (SBB). Every day, almost 1.2 million people visit Zurich main station, Basel SBB, Berne, Geneva Cornavin and Lucerne – whether as travelers, shoppers or passers-by – and can benefit from the app as a valuable digital companion. It uses a total of approximately 4,500 beacons and sensor fusion to locate the positions of the smartphones. The app suggests the ideal way to the chosen platform and also considers barrier free routing. Passengers can find points of interest, for example restrooms, cash machines, shops and restaurants including opening hours and contact details in an interactive map and can be guided there via turn-by-turn navigation. Special offers and an Instagram feed with information on news and events in the five stations complete the application.

Customer Reference

Within a very short peroid of time, infsoft has become an important partner for us. infsoft has great expertise in indoor navigation and interdisciplinary experience which we profit from not only in the project “SBB – mein Bahnhof”. infsoft’s innovative ideas, the quick and precise implementation in conjunction with a deep understanding of our business convinced us.

 

Bruno OggierHead of projects, railway production, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)

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Frankfurt Airport Success Story

On behalf of Fraport AG, infsoft developed individual ANDROID and iOS apps with indoor positioning and indoor navigation for the third largest airport in Europe. The job was commissioned in 2011 and since then has continued to develop into a omni-channel solution, which now also comprises (responsive) website integration of the map material as well as interactive information media in the terminal (Interactive Airport Desk – "I-AID"). More than 61 million passengers annually profit from these services in an area of over 110 hectares. Approx. 1000 points of interest and approx. 30 kilometers of routes were digitally recorded.

Customer Reference

infsoft is a very valuable partner for us. Besides a good understanding of our daily business and the excellent consultation regarding our demanding requirements, infsoft repeatedly convinces with their high level of responsibility and engagement. The collaboration is professional and reliable. Considering the background of constantly and rapidly changing requirements of mobile apps for our passengers, we estimate in particular the flexibility and innovative strength of infsoft

 

Dr. Rolf FelkelVice President Airside, Landside and Security Applications, Fraport AG

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In the complex building structures of an airport or railway station, it is not always easy to keep an overview. Different terminals or tracks, the fastest way to the right check-in counter, gate or platform – infsoft's indoor navigation helps travelers to prepare their business trip or family holiday in the best possible way. An app can further enhance the travel experience.

Indoor Navigation
An interactive building plan shows all important points of interest such as ATMs, lavatories and ticket counters. The passenger sees his/her location as a blue dot on the map and can be guided to different locations via turn-by-turn navigation.
The map material can not only be integrated into a smartphone app, but also into a website and into an onsite touchscreen (terminal solution/multitouch kiosk).

Additional App Functionalities
Additionally, the app can be equipped with other useful functions for travelers. Up-to-date travel information and alerts in the event of any changes can provide passengers with planning security and reduce stress. Spare time can then be put to better use, for example for shopping, relaxing or working. Retailers can also present themselves in detail inside the app.
Use Case: Measuring Train Wagon Utilization in Rail Traffic

Location-Based Marketing
With location-based marketing, store owners can reach their target groups even better. Additional purchase incentives can be displayed via couponing and push notifications, depending on the user's location and interests.
If an app is installed and the smartphone's Bluetooth function is activated, customers can receive location-relevant push notifications directly on their mobile device. To make this possible, Bluetooth Low Energy beacons are installed at the entrance or in the immediate vicinity of a store. The signals emitted by the beacons are received by a smartphone and it is recognized that the customer is nearby. A message is then automatically sent to the phone.

At the railway station or at the airport, the position of various assets (e.g. baggage trolleys, wheelchairs, etc.) as well as the movements of passengers can be tracked. Bluetooth Low Energy beacons are usually attached to assets, while people can be tracked via the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi function of their smartphones - in compliance with data protection guidelines.

Asset Tracking
Benefits of a tracking solution are reduced search times, the possibility to perform usage and utilization analyses and theft protection of valuable assets. A real-time locating system (RTLS) provides location information on vehicles and equipment and helps to improve business productivity. The solution ensures safe and efficient operations and the best possible utilization of equipment. Management can receive notifications of location violations or idle times, retrieve reports based on historical activity, and identify underutilized assets. The current as well as the historic location of the assets can be viewed on a digital map at any time. Geofencing is used to protect assets from theft. If an asset leaves its assigned area, a notification can be sent automatically and immediately to the responsible security personnel.
Use Case: Cart and Wheelchair Tracking at an Airport
Use Case: Vehicle and Equipment Monitoring at an Airport

Passenger Flow Analysis
Operators also benefit from extensive evaluations. Using infsoft Analytics, detailed information on visitor flows can be obtained in compliance with data protection regulations. This allows, among other things, an automatic analysis of waiting times (e.g. at security checks at airports). A heat map can help to identify highly frequented or barely used areas. Based on the analyses, it is possible to derive specific recommendations for action.
Use Case: Passenger Flow and Wait Time Monitoring at an Airport

Coordination of Security Personnel
At airports and railway stations, critical situations and incidents regularly occur to which security forces must respond. By using a tracking solution, the current position of security forces is always known. In the event of a security problem, the security employee that is located at the shortest distance can be called in order to promptly deal with the problem.
Use Case: Coordination of Security Forces at the Airport

Depending on where they live, the journey to the train station or airport can be a challenge for passengers. Once they arrive, travellers have access to countless parking spaces and multi-storey car parks. However, it is not always easy to keep track and to find the way back to the parked car afterwards. The solutions from infsoft contribute to a pleasant and stress-free journey and facilitate the search for a parking space.

Intermodal Travel
An intermodal travel planner ensures seamless door-to-door mobility thanks to the optimal combination of transport modes. The system can support the passenger during the whole intermodal arrival – no matter whether the traveler uses car, bike, car sharing, bus, train or a combination of them. Current delays are taken into account when calculating the journey. The user can choose the combination of means of transport that best suits his or her expectations of travel time, cost or use of resources.
Use Case: Intermodal Travel Planning

Parking Management
Parking garages at airports and train stations are usually busy and there are only a few available spaces. Sensors help to identify vacant parking spaces. With the help of an app, travelers can quickly find an available parking space and have the route to it displayed in the app. Long searches are avoided and passengers arrive at their destination without stress. The user can save the position of his own car in the app – thus, even after a longer absence, the way back to the car is no longer a problem (car finder).