Lisbon, 5th August 2004. In the scope of the third phase of the development of Carris’ Operational Support and Passenger Information System, Tecmic integrated its system, known as XTraN Passenger, with the contactless ticketing system chosen by the company. The principal aim of the integration was to avoid the need to install a second console along with Tecmic’s current system console, for managing the ticketing system. This new functionality allows the driver to be informed in case of faults in the ticketing system, as well as providing information concerning ticketing transactions and other functionality. During September, Tecmic will finish the installation of its Operational Support system across approximately 800 buses and trams belonging to Carris’ fleet, as well as increasing the number of panels providing information on next bus arrival times, both to residents and visitors to Lisbon.

Tecmic, renowned worldwide for its pioneering implementation of an Operational Support system based on TETRA (digital trunking) communications, forms part of the consortium of companies which together with Efacec and Radiomóvel, developed the Operational Support System in operation since March 2000. On-board equipment collects information based on GPS positioning, as well as door opening sensor data, and communicates with radio beacons for identifying stops, which determine the exact position of a vehicle within a specific route.

Every 30 seconds a vehicle generates a message containing its geographical location and time taken to travel between two stops, which is sent to Carris’ Control Centre. This data is used to improve service regularity, improve the quality of service to users, and provide information on waiting times for the next bus.

About Tecmic

Founded in 1988, Tecmic employs a multidisciplinary team of engineers developing solutions for fleet management, remote equipment management, and access management as well as maintaining a high level of R&D in microelectronics, through participation in European projects involving international consortiums.
Tecmic’s XTraN fleet management system currently equips thousands of vehicles and provides value-added operational support and process control, essential to companies basing their activities on small or medium-sized fleets, such as passenger transport, goods haulage, technical support, utilities, taxis, waste collection and others.