MASS_29

MassTransit_March_2017

MARCH 2017 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 29 unnecessarily small pixel pitches — and pixel pitch will depend on viewing distance. It is recommended that LEDs be installed in a location where they cannot be touched or harmed; this will help reduce the chance of damage or vandalism to the displays. Best Practices for Public Safety in Transportation Th e following best practices are important to keep in mind when investing in digital displays for public safety purposes: Location: Where a display is installed will impact its eff ectiveness, so it is important to conduct traffi c-pattern studies with a qualifi ed public safety organization to ensure the desired location is actually the best place for it — just because it fi ts somewhere or looks good in a certain location doesn’t mean people will be able to see it or pay attention to it. Location also aff ects the type of structure required to mount the display, as well as whether the location is indoor or outdoor. In turn, these both impact cost. Control & Content: Investing in soft ware that allows control from a single network or point allows one person or team to monitor displays and control content. Some higher-quality displays can send email alerts to an admin if there are any issues with the sign or with the way the content is displaying. All displays can be networked, so if a screen goes down, the admin is alerted immediately. But not every display has this as an option, so having a point person to monitor displays is important. Having a proper content management service in place is essential in emergency situations, when a transit agency would want to immediately push alerts to every screen in the aff ected area. With a content management service, this can be done in real time from anywhere an admin has access to the network. An agency can even set up pre-written messages for certain situations like a fi re or collision, and simply hit a button to push them to displays. Th e eff ectiveness of a public safety messaging program greatly depends on the content. It is important to work with a content provider and a public safety organization that know best practices for messaging campaigns and emergency alerts, and is able to design and create the most eff ective content. It may be useful to get feedback on content from local public safety entities, transit police or a federal institution like Homeland Security, or work alongside them, to ensure that the messaging and design works and is user friendly. Budget: It’s important to have a clear vision of the goals and needs of the public safety messaging programs and ensure that the budget fi ts that vision. Budget should be determined early in the project so that an integrator can help choose the best possible solution for the messages and appropriately balance both budget and vision. Perspective: Th ink about the passengers and travelers utilizing the transit: What are they looking at, where are they looking and what information would help them the most? Sometimes less is more when it comes to signage, so travelers are not overwhelmed with too much information. A clear, concise message in an environment that is not cluttered with signage ensures that the messaging is visible and eff ective. Using digital signage for public safety in a transit setting can help keep travelers safe and aware even during emergencies, helping to create a more secure future for passengers and transit agencies alike. Ben Hardy is product manager for NEC Display Solutions. Grant Wylie is the senior product manager for LED at NEC Display Solutions. For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/10065654 SAFE ZONE


MassTransit_March_2017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above