Lin Min

linmin67@hotmail.com

PUBLIC transit is the central nervous system of the everyday life of a mega city like Shenzhen. The fully automated Line 20 to be put into operation this week speaks a lot about quintessential Shenzhen: a city enabled by technology.

Trains on the 8.43-km Phase I of Line 20, with five stations between Airport North Station and World Convention & Exhibition Center Station, will run fully automatically without a driver in charge.

With a sophisticated computer system, the trains can “wake up” themselves, automatically start and stop with high precision and conduct self-examination. Without a driver’s cabin, passengers in the first and last carriages can see the train snake through the dark, quiet tunnel under the bustling city.

Passengers who choose to register for the facial recognition system can use it to pass the turnstiles without even using their smartphones. Senior passengers can also choose the palm vein recognition system to pass the side turnstile – which is reserved for people over 60 years old to use the Metro free of charge. Some may frown upon the use of the facial and palm vein recognition systems because of their concern over security of biometric information. However, these concerns will fade over time as more laws on personal data security are implemented.

More importantly, Metro Line 20 trains adopt a cutting-edge communication system that enables trains to “talk” with each other directly – the first time such technology is being used in China. The real-time communication improves dispatch efficiency, cutting train intervals, improving safety by reducing human errors and latency, and greatly increasing passenger turnover.

In addition to providing more convenience for passengers and making the Metro service more efficient, technologies will make Shenzhen’s public transit system more resilient. As cities become more vulnerable to virus attacks and climate change-related disasters, technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (LoT) are being adopted to help combat public health threats or emergencies.

Through the use of thermal sensors, Shenzhen’s Metro stations and other public mobility terminals are able to efficiently monitor passengers’ temperatures. Line 20 trains are also better equipped than those on other existing lines: with the use of sensors and other state-of-the-art devices, they are capable of detecting obstacles and preventing collision and derailment.

In Shenzhen and other megacities, passenger flows can change drastically during holidays and rush hours. A sudden influx of passengers can also affect certain routes when there is a big event being held in a specific venue. The use of big data, IoT, 5G and other technologies will enable the operator to make real-time service adjustments that help improve operational efficiency and prevent overcrowding. In addition, real-time updates on significant changes in passenger flows or service adjustments can be sent to passengers across multiple channels, such as applications and displays at stations, so that passengers can make timely decisions when there is a need for a change to their travel plans.

Intelligent systems can also save lives. A system that effectively monitors the Metro tunnels, platforms and the operation of trains, using 5G, IoT and sensors, etc., will enable the decision-makers to act more quickly, such as halting services to prevent tragedies like the July 20, 2021 flooding in Zhengzhou, which killed 14 passengers in a flooded Metro Line 5 train.

Hopefully Line 20 will usher in a new era of technology revolutionizing urban mobility as Shenzhen continues to build a smart city and utilizes technology for social good.

(The author is a deputy editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Daily.)