New AI-powered SMRT command centre aims to make bus services safer, more reliable and faster

The SMRT command centre, resembling an air traffic control tower for buses, aims to enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency in bus services. Fleet managers oversee real-time monitoring of the SMRT fleet, identifying issues such as buses bunching together and raising fatigue alerts for tired drivers. The Mobility Command and Control Centre, located in Gali Batu Bus Depot near Yew Tee, consolidates fleet operations previously managed by other depots.

Opened by Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow on August 28, the centre unifies information on fleet deployment, live bus movements, vehicle health, electric bus charging, road traffic, and safe-driving alerts. Managed by nearly 50 officers, the centre uses AI to detect potential problems like driver fatigue, unsafe driving, and bus bunching.

This shift allows service controllers to focus on assessing situations and coordinating responses rather than constantly monitoring multiple systems. Each alert is linked to predefined benchmarks, guiding controllers on when to intervene. The centre also implements technology to improve overall bus operations, with alerts directly reaching control centers for timely intervention.

SMRT's Bus 4.0 initiative, covering bus services in Chua Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang, Woodlands, and Jurong, aims to transition from reactive responses to proactive risk identification. Future upgrades may include autonomous vehicle operations.