Lidar and AI to monitor crowds at Bristol train station

A Lidar-based crowd monitoring system that uses AI to track potentially dangerous activity will watch passengers at Bristol Temple Meads train station.

Aimed at ‘improving the rail passenger experience’, the Situate system from Createc is one of three technologies selected by Network Rail and the government-linked Connected Places Catapult for trials this spring.

Situate uses AI to alert station operators to incidents in real time and warn of concerning activity, the Catapult said. A single sensor can cover large distances and be alert to people running or standing too close to the platform edge.

Installation of each new technology or system is set to take place by the end of next month and be trialled by the public until July. 

“This next stage is when their technologies will really come to life,” said Alan Peters, ecosystem director for rail and stations at the Catapult. “We look forward to working with each company during the installation of their systems, and to monitor feedback from members of the public and the station team.”

The other projects, which are together aimed at making stations safer, easier to navigate and more social for passengers, are a passenger assistance app known as Aubin from London firm Jnction, which is designed to help neurodiverse passengers and others who might find travel difficult, and a ‘workspace pod’ from WorkfromHub.

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