Transit Crowding Visualisations

Maps ION Light Rail stations, image of ION train, and testing with participants

Field testing of our crowding information visualization prototypes at ION Light Rail Stations in Kitchener-Waterloo.

In collaboration with Rogers Communications and Halion Displays, we developed a public information visualization for displaying crowding information to increase ridership through a socially safe user experience for public transit riders.

Description:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ridership has dropped amidst safety concerns around sharing public transportation. We investigated the public transit rider experience and perceptions of safety based on levels of crowdedness on a bus or train. The study included two parts. The first part is a survey about passengers’ safety perceptions and practices, perceptions of levels of crowding, and preferences for visualizing crowdedness information based on the presented design concepts. The second part is a field evaluation of information visualization concepts on digital public displays that help riders anticipate crowds on trains, and the development of a thermal camera-based crowd detection system. The results of the studies aim to inform designing risk communications surrounding crowdedness and other safety information to public transit riders. 

Fullness visualization concept
Occupancy visualization concept

Related Publication