Jerusalem upgrades transport information system with e-paper displays

Credit: Zeevveez, Jerusalem, Israel

The Jerusalem Transportation Master Plan Team (JTMT) has upgraded their passenger information systems at bus stops with solar powered e-paper displays.

The e-paper displays, provided by Papercast, are multi-lingual, use e-Ink technology and are currently operational in several bus stops within Jerusalem. They represent JTMT’s long-term intention to identify an economical, sustainable and future-proof replacement to the existing signage.

JTMT required a solution that met precise technical, environmental, informational and functional requirements to further improve the experience for passengers.

“This is the most advanced technology for presenting real-time passenger information at bus stops, making it an ideal replacement for the old ‘next bus’ signs and static paper signs,” said Tzachi Reouveni, CEO and Owner of Projective Ltd. “Papercast has already impressed passengers in Jerusalem with their interactive display offering live arrivals, routes, frequencies and instant messages in three languages.”

Where Papercast has not been introduced yet, Jerusalem passengers access information through the old signs which are limited to displaying bus arrivals only via the passenger information system, or posters which need frequent replacement and therefore have a high maintenance cost. New technology was introduced for testing last year, based on 55” LCD touch screens providing bus arrivals, routes, frequencies and trip planning in three languages.

The new e-paper displays have wireless connectivity, meaning they can be installed within an hour. The displays have been designed specifically to deliver real-time information with a cloud-based data management platform offering instant connection with open data, comprehensive content management, monitoring and auto-diagnostics.

“The displays are 36 times more efficient compared to the previous generation of screens, making sustained solar power feasible. The displays are easy to install and operate and management is simple and fast – passengers are updated instantly from the control centre, in three languages,” added Reouveni.

With increasing adoption around the world, e-paper is becoming the technology of choice for keeping passengers better informed at the bus stop. Papercast launched in 2016, and experienced a series of innovative enhancements during 2017.