Executive summary Being a citizen of a metro city, we usually face a lot of problems while travelling through metro. As cities continue to grow, public transportation systems become increasingly important, and the metro is no exception. However, with a high number of passengers using the metro, top-up machines can often become congested, causing long lines and inconvenience to passengers.
Background
The existing technology used for metro cards is Block chain includes Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables devices to establish communication by bringing them close together or in contact with each other.
Major pros of using our metro key technology are:
Convenience: Virtual metro cards eliminate the need for physical cards, making it easier for users to manage and access their fare information.
Cost-effective: There's no production or distribution cost associated with physical cards, reducing expenses for transport authorities.
Reduced fraud: Virtual cards can be securely linked to a user's account, reducing the risk of fraudulent activities like counterfeiting or theft.
Customization Virtual metro cards can be personalized with user-specific settings and preferences.
Contactless payments: NFC technology enables seamless contactless transactions, providing a hygienic and efficient experience.
Some drawbacks of our project metro key are:
Technology dependency: Virtual metro cards rely on NFC-enabled devices, which may exclude users with older or incompatible smartphones.
Power and network requirements: NFC technology requires power and a network connection, which can be a challenge in areas with limited infrastructure.
Potential security concerns: While efforts are made to secure virtual cards, there's always a risk of hacking or unauthorized access to personal and financial data.
User adoption: Some users may be hesitant to switch from traditional physical cards to virtual options due to familiarity or concerns about technology reliability.
Proposed approaches
Problem Identification:
The identification of the problem with top-up machines in the metro is related to the challenges caused by the high volume of passengers using them.
• These challenges include congestion, long lines, reduced efficiency, and slower service, which ultimately result in inconvenience for passengers.
• The issue highlights the need for effective solutions to improve the top-up process and enhance the overall transportation experience for passengers.
This problem could be solved by using a metro card which can top up by the user’s device itself and does not require any top up machine. For that we are making a virtual metro card which works the same as our traditional metro card but more effectively and efficiently. To integrate with a metro card system, you would need permission and API access, identify the data exchange protocol, develop the interface, implement data storage and retrieval, and test and refine the integration.
Timeline
Project timeline
April 2023 : Project Initiation
May 2023 : System Design
June 2023 : Database management
July 2023 : Build API for Integrating payment and external gateways