LTA Partners ISS To Build A More Customer-Oriented LTA

The Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) is partnering the Institute of Systems Science (ISS) on a pilot project to explore the possibility of getting real-time transport status updates from commuters on the go.

This project will see the public engaged in co-creating value with the LTA through the use of participatory technologies such as mobile phones and smartphones and Web2.0 components such as Twitter. This is augmented by advanced text and traffic analysis technologies such as Text Mining, Voting Algorithms and Analytics Technologies.

With data supplemented by providers such as LTA, this will allow LTA to provide real-time traffic updates. These updates will allow commuters to skirt congested roads and reach their destinations speedier, thus improving their commuting experience.

ISS is undertaking the project in collaboration with the Institute of Infocomm Research of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

The project is part of LTA’s Singapore Urban Transport Solution (STARS) programme, an initiative to spruce up Singapore’s transport landscape through innovation. In line with that goal, the LTA signed Memorandums of Collaboration with four top local academic and research institutions on 13 August 2009. They are the National University of Singapore, Institute of Systems Science, A*STAR, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University.

In addition, the LTA will work with ISS to create a new service-driven Enterprise Architecture for the organisation.

Enterprise Architecture refers to the master-planning of an organisation’s business processes and IT architecture to meet its strategic business needs.

However, while conventional Enterprise Architecture methodology focuses on internal business processes and is not strong on customer and service innovation, ISS will help LTA create an Enterprise Architecture that will place more emphasis on customer needs and service innovation.

This service-oriented Enterprise Architecture will be used to drive the master-planning of the business processes, data, applications and technology in LTA.

Said Mr Lim Swee Cheang, the Director and CEO of ISS, “We are indeed very honoured to participate in the LTA's STARS initiative. ISS hopes to contribute to an enterprise blueprint of services that enhances the foundation for innovative capacity in LTA; specifically, a foundation that systematically enables people-centred transportation.”

The signatories (back row) and key LTA personnel at the LTA MOC signing ceremony