Control system manages the movements entire city

A large CitectScada system comprised of 2- 5000 point full system keys and 25 - 5000 point client displays allows the monitoring of Perth's integrated transportation system.

Wayfarer Transit Systems has implemented what is probably the world's most comprehensive multimodal transportation system in Perth Western Australia.

The system has brought greater efficiency, security, economy and service to the Transperth system, which is fully integrated across all Perth's bus, train and ferry services.

The system includes real-time monitoring, control, trend analysis and reporting across the city-wide system provided by a large CitectScada system comprising 2- 5000 point full system keys and 25 - 5000 point client displays.

"This is the first time to our knowledge that a Scada system has been used for such an application; hence, the development was not without its challenges, said Paul Moirano, Marketing Manager, for Wayfarer Transit Systems.

"The complexity of the system control, monitoring and reporting meant that a number of integration issues had to be resolved at the highest levels of Citect's technical support network".

"However, that being said, the issues were resolved and CitectScada is now operating successfully running within probably the worlds most comprehensive, multimodal transportation system and currently managing and monitoring around 500 separate devices".

The genesis of the Transperth system was the decision by the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia, which controls the Transperth Integrated Ticketing System, that their next-generation ticketing system had to deliver a raft of benefits for Transperth and its patrons in the areas of safety, security, efficiency, economy and customer service.

Perth's public transport system is fully integrated across all bus, train and ferry services.

This means that all modes accept the same ticket irrespective of the service used.

The fleet currently comprises over 970 buses, 48 two-car and 31 three-car train sets and two ferries.

In order to achieve greater efficiency, economy and transparency across all these transportation areas, Wayfarer, in conjunction with the Public Transportation Authority of Western Australia, developed and implemented a Tag-On, Tag-Off system, where passengers Tag-On into the system at a bus, ferry or railway station and Tag-Off whenever they leave the system, whatever the mode of transport.

To achieve this, Wayfarer smartcard validation equipment is provided in buses, ferries and in station gating equipment.

The Wayfarer TGX150 Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM) incorporates a smartcard processor that allows the driver to sign on and off, issue cash tickets and process SmartRider transactions.

Passengers can use the unit to top up their SmartRider cards; and the ETM/GPS interface also determines the exact location of a bus at all times, determines the correct fare zone and calculates fares automatically.

The project also includes the Wayfarer SCP smartcard Platform processor for tagging on and off at all 'open' train station platforms and the SCV, the Wayfarer smartcard bus and ferry validator for tagging on and off buses and ferries.

In addition, major train stations are fitted with Wayfarer/Gunnebo operated access control gates, which open in response to the card.

Providing supervisory monitoring and control over the entire Wayfarer system, via PTA's wireless LAN network, is a CitectScada system, comprising 2 - 5000 point full system keys and 25 - 5000 point client displays.

The Citect system delivers real-time monitoring of Wayfarer supplied Rail Tag On/Tag Off devices (SCPs and Gates).

It provides local, central and head office control of automatic fare gates (including emergency release of all gates system wide); status monitoring of Add Value Machines within the SmartRider system (cash held, note box full, receipt status etc); integration with the Wayfarer Tidal Flow Program for the automatic changing of gate entry/exit mode, based on times of day (peak flow etc); monitoring of key business critical servers and control of user specific log-in privileges.

In addition, the Scada system also provides all alarms and trend analysis and status monitoring of wireless LAN Access points and PCs installed within the bus and ferry depots throughout the SmartRider network.

"This is one of the most unusual applications of our CitectScada package, but it highlights the potential for Scada to move outside of its traditionally accepted application areas", said Paul Hurst, MD of Citect UK.

"Every day, in all sectors of industry and commerce, more and more processes are becoming automated and the requirement to monitor and control these is critical".

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