LTA has an estimated 6,000 buses operated by the Public Transport Operators (PTOs). The buses are installed with cameras that record video footage from multiple perspectives during bus service hours to support investigation upon an incident occurrence and for the safety of passengers.

LTA is looking for an innovative solution to better utilise the existing bus camera infrastructure to expand our detection capabilities and improve safety and operational response time. By leveraging this system, we are exploring solutions that can detect traffic violations and illegal parking activities; road infrastructure defects; bridge and tunnel defects; bus stop infrastructure defects; flag non-compliance in road work zones; and/or provide on-site analysis of bus operations, enhancing overall safety and efficiency. The solution should:

1. Leverage and optimise the use of the existing bus camera infrastructure using innovative smart artificial intelligence technologies to address some of LTA’s operational issues; and
2. Propose alternative technological solutions to enhance the existing bus camera infrastructure if it is assessed to be technically unviable.

Please refer to the Problem Statement Brief (Revised) – Enhancing Traffic & Road Operations Using On-board Bus Cameras (PDF, 410kB) for more details.

[Updated 15 Nov 2024] The submission deadline has been extended from 21 Nov to 5 Dec. All proposals must be submitted by 5 Dec 2024, 4pm (SGT/GMT+8) via this submission form. LTA will contact the shortlisted solution providers separately after the CFS closes.

[Updated 19 Nov 2024] Please refer to the Q&A - Enhancing Traffic Road Operations Using On-board Bus Cameras (PDF, 166kB), for LTA’s responses to queries submitted by participants.

LTA facilitates the development and use of new technologies which are not within the scope of current standards and regulations through a sandbox arrangement. This allows a safe environment to better understand the use, benefits, and associated risks of the new technologies within our local context. Interested applicants can check out the available thematic sandboxes to submit your innovation proposals.

Sandbox for Electric Vehicle Charging Systems (EVCS)

Currently, all Electric Vehicle Charging Systems (EVCS) used in Singapore must comply with existing standards and regulations, such as the Technical Reference 25 (TR25). Advancements in Electric Vehicles (EV) charging technology have led to an increased number of EVCS deploying new technologies which are not covered under the scope of current standards, even as we regularly update these standards.

A responsive and forward-looking regulatory approach will help facilitate the deployment and development of such innovative EVCS. To achieve this, LTA has established an EVCS sandbox framework where such systems can be trialled in a controlled environment.

Closed Applications to Sandbox

• Electric Heavy Goods Vehicle (e-HGV) Battery Charging and Swapping System (BCSS) Solutions. Awarded to PSA Corporation Ltd and a consortium comprising Strides Frontier Pte Ltd and Ecoswift Pte Ltd to trial and assess the viability of battery swapping for e-HGVs.
• Electric Vehicle Mobile Charging System (MCS) Solutions. Awarded to Power-Up Tech Pte Ltd and Beecharge Innovation Group Pte Ltd, to trial and assess the viability of mobile EV charging forelectric vehicles.

General Sandbox Enquiry Form

For general enquiries about LTA’s sandboxes, please use our online form.

We are able to bring innovative ideas to life thanks to collaborations with industry and research partners! We aim to deliver a safe, reliable, inclusive, cost efficient and environmentally-sustainable land transport system for our commuters.

For example, did you know we are upcycling waste by using waste plastics to pave roads? This is possible with the partnership from Samwoh Innovation Centre, Singapore Polytechnic, and Contec Fiber AG.

Read the article - "Paving the Way for Eco-Friendly Roads" to find out more about this initiative.

Enhancement of Roadworks Application Process using Artificial Intelligence

• Industry Partner: NCS Pte. Ltd.
• LTA User: Road Works Regulation and Licensing Division (RWRL)

On average, there are about 200 to 300 roadworks each day, for installations and upgrading works relating to water, sewer, drainage, power and telecommunication networks. For each roadwork, the agency or private contractor must get a permit via LTA’s Permit for Road Occupation Management Portal (LTA.PROMPT) online portal.

Innovating to Improve Efficiency

To smoothen the process of roadwork applications, we worked with NCS Pte Ltd to introduce the following:

1. Automatic generation of Traffic Control Plans (TCP).
2. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to check scanned documents. Applicants are alerted if anything is missing.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) to review applications and provide recommendations for quicker processing.

A Simpler and Shorter Process

With these features, submitting applications on roads with a simple configuration is more streamlined.

Generation of TCPs via AI/ML enhancement system

The Road Ahead

We are now exploring how to introduce more complex traffic layouts and road infrastructure. This will cater to different road configurations and traffic volume.

Viaduct Bearing Inspection with Drones

• Research Partner: Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
• LTA User: Asset Engineering (Infrastructure) Division (AEINF)

There are over 17,000 viaduct bearings along the North-South-East-West Line (NSEWL). In accordance to LTA’s Code of Practice, these must be inspected every 5 years - a process which is currently performed manually. Besides checking the viaduct bearings’ general condition, we also inspect key parameters such as longitudinal displacement and bearing rotations.

The challenges we face:

• Accessibility: Bearings are not easy to reach. They are typically elevated at a height of six metres or more, and found within small cavity spaces or above water bodies.
• Technology limitations: Current commercial-off-the-shelf drones are too large to fly close to the bearings and cannot capture close-up images in low-light. Instead, we would need to use scaffolds, cherry-pickers, and other specialised equipment to reach the bearings.
• Human error: The work is manually done by people. This can result in parallax errors and inconsistency.

Helping Viaduct Bearing Inspection Take Flight

We approached Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to develop a drone to meet our inspection needs.

They designed a lightweight mini-drone not exceeding 230mm in length, that can connects to a ground power unit via a tethered-line. Components are encased within the drone’s body so the pilot can fly it to different heights and access small cavity spaces. This eliminates the need for elaborate setups for workers to manually inspect each bearing.

Automatic and Accurate Measurements

At each location, the drone will take high-definition images covering the entire width of the bearing and a 3D image will be generated. An automatic AI-enabled displacement extraction framework will be run to extract critical infrastructure measurements. This ensures accuracy of the inspection.

Reaching New Heights

The drone system will be used at viaduct bearing inspections for the NSEWL. It seeks to:

1. Reduce the time taken to inspect each bearing from one hour to fifteen minutes
2. Eliminate work-at-height risks and cumbersome logistical setups
3. Allow for inspections to be done both during the day and night
4. Improve accuracy and consistency of required measurements
5. Overcome accessibility issues

We are exploring if the same drone system can be used in other areas such as ceiling inspections at MRT stations and road bridges.

Redesigning Temporary Bus Shelters

• Industry Partner: Shincon Industrial
• LTA User: Commuter Infrastructure Construction Division

As LTA progressively conducts upgrading works to existing infrastructures, it is necessary to put in place temporary structures while undergoing upgrading works. This includes the construction of temporary bus shelters.

These temporary shelters require permits such as BCA Temporary Build Permit (TBP) and Permit to Use (PTU), before any site work can commence. A two-week construction period followed by another two weeks for the demolition process would also be required.

Incorporating Innovation to an Existing Design

A conventional temporary bus shelter requires safety bollards and roof panels to be installed.
 

Bollard footing (left) and roof panel installation (right) for conventional temporary bus shelters

Finished Temporary Bus Shelter

To reduce the time needed and streamline the manpower-intensive construction process, LTA took an alternative approach to the form and design of the temporary bus shelter. Bollards are replaced with concrete barriers and the roofing is replaced with a canvas.

Redesigned Temporary Bus Shelter

LTA engineers worked closely with the contractors/suppliers to ensure that the redesigned temporary bus shelter does not compromise commuter safety and experience. It is also able to withstand inclement weather, as evident throughout a trial conducted from October 2022 to December 2023.

Redesigned Temporary Bus Shelter in Adverse Weather Conditions

Transforming Into Real Benefits

Overall, LTA is now able to reduce the man-hours required to install the redesigned temporary bus shelter by 75% and shorten the installation and removal durations from one month to one week. Due to the large number of bus shelters to be upgraded, the time and cost savings acquired in the construction process will be compounded significantly.

Commuters can also enjoy the upgraded bus shelters sooner, with minimised construction inconvenience (noise or dust) due to the more efficient construction process.

Redesigning the Future

Beyond bus stop upgrading works, LTA is also exploring the usage of the redesigned temporary shelters for simple maintenance works, short term road diversion and minor improvement works that would only require the diversion or closure of bus stops for a short duration.

Enhancing Utilities Visualisation in Construction Works with Augmented Reality (AR)

• Industry Partner: Gammon Bachy Soletanche Joint Venture
• LTA User: Cross Island Line CR116 (CRL AMK Station) Project Team

Excavation works carried out during construction operations entail inherent risks as underground utilities are not visible from the surface. Any unexpected incident from excavation causing damage to underground utilities could result in major service disruptions.

To investigate and verify the location of existing utilities, trial trenches are typically carried out prior to excavation works to identify the details of the underground utilities, such as the type, depth and width of utilities. Information from the trial trenches is then consolidated into a 2D utility layout plan as a reference.

Image of a trial trench (left) and 2D utility layout plan (right)

Upon verifying the details of the utilities, physical utility markers are used to mark out the location of existing underground utilities. However, there are still limitations to this method of identifying utilities, such as:

• Utility markers may be tampered with, or accidentally shifted;
• Critical information, such as utility alignment, is not clearly displayed;
• Clustering of utility markers within the same area may cause confusion; and
• Utility markers are unable to be installed directly on footpaths and carriageways.

Image of typical physical utility markers on site

Using Augmented Reality (AR) to Aid Visualisation of Underground Services

To aid the visualisation of underground utilities, LTA explored and adopted the use of Augmented Reality (AR) technology for more efficient identification of utilities on site.

Using the Augmented Visualisation of Underground Services (AVUS) system, the 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) that was developed from the 2D layout plan, can be uploaded and viewed on site via AR using any mobile device (e.g. smartphones or tablets). This provides convenient access with centimetric accuracy, allowing easy viewing of the utility alignment on site, as compared to conventional physical utility markers. AVUS also provides easier reference of utilities’ key parameters.

Image of the AVUS antenna (left) and AR visualisation of utility on site (right)

The AVUS offers several benefits over the conventional method to:

• Alleviate the reliance on typical utility markers installed on site above ground (these have inherent limitations that likely present inaccuracies);
• Easier referencing of the utilities against landmarks on site; and
• Clearer identification of utilities information such as type and depth of utility.