In Germany, SPIE digitises passenger flow recording in Bonn’s public transport system

Bonn, 10 October 2024 – SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, is delivering a pioneering Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) system for Stadtwerke Bonn. The project aims to enhance the attractiveness and safety of public transport. To achieve this, twelve underground stations and 38 above-ground stops will be equipped with more than 900 IP surveillance cameras that also record and analyse passenger flows. The project is further complemented by the installation of new emergency call points and pillars, as well as the monitoring of tunnel entrances. The installed technology forms the core system for the “Digitisation of the Data Transport Network and Passenger Flow Recording (DigiDaFa)” project. The work will be completed within the next year.

This pioneering data analysis system will help Stadtwerke Bonn take on a leading role in Germany. The central component is the PSIM solution installed by SPIE, which captures live data from more than 900 IP surveillance cameras and analyses it using a video management system. This not only enhances passenger safety but also provides valuable insights for optimising timetables and making the stations more user-friendly. SPIE offers significant added value thanks to its extensive expertise in hazard management. “In addition to the technology already specified in the invitation to tender, we recommended and implemented the monitoring of tunnel entrances using our laser scanning method, along with an efficient form of communication in the lifts,” explains Joachim Hähnel, Key Account Manager in SPIE’s Information & Communication Services operational division.

Automatic hazard management for significantly enhanced passenger safety

In the future, the image-processing software will handle incoming video signals and automatically select hazardous situations based on predefined parameters, which will then be displayed as alarms on the control room’s screens. The near-seamless video coverage of the underground stations in accordance with DIN EN 62676-4 will significantly enhance passenger safety compared to the current situation. In addition, the system will separately monitor Stadtwerke Bonn’s sensitive operational areas to immediately detect and report any unauthorised access. In the event of an alarm, the specialist staff will take the necessary steps to defuse the situation. Passengers will also have the option to contact the control room via one of the more than 100 communication points. The monitoring of tunnel entrances will be fully automated. Laser scanning will be used to scan the entrance areas of the tunnels. In a matter of seconds, the software will analyse whether a person, animal or object has entered the danger zone. In an emergency, the control room will be alerted so that it can stop the trains if necessary.

Implementation during ongoing operations

Thanks to the modular structure of the installed system, technical expansions can be made at any time. As a result, Stadtwerke Bonn is prepared for the future and can flexibly respond to changing conditions, for example, when new rail lines or additional stops need to be integrated into the scenario. The ten-person team, consisting of SPIE employees and business partners, will now oversee the project’s implementation during ongoing operations. “Wherever safe execution of the work is not possible during normal operations, we will switch to night shifts when the rail service is paused,” says Project Manager Dierk Ziebell, who is supervising the implementation of the system technology and the installation of the new IP-based infrastructure.

The high standards required to secure the critical infrastructure that Stadtwerke Bonn’s passenger operations rely on are being maintained during implementation. The project is also taking into account all of the requirements under the new NIS-2 Directive, which will reinforce risk management and information security guidelines in autumn 2024. The same applies to compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).