WavePointer & Deutsche Bahn combine APC for holistic NDE

WavePointer - as an IOT developer and data specialist - has achieved another decisive success in the implementation of the three-state field test "Mit dir mobil" in the  Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund (Central German Transport Association MDV). This innovative project, which aims to precisely record passenger usage data (NDE) in local public transport, relies on WavePointer's proven beacon technology and once again demonstrates its outstanding benefits for transport companies and passengers alike - following regular nationwide operation in Switzerland. New opportunities are opening up for a performance-based distribution of revenue, improved data utilisation in local public transport and new innovative public transport pricing systems (flexible tickets based on distance, ABT, etc.).

Advantages of beacon technology: Precise, standardised & efficient

At the heart of the solution is the uncomplicated, wireless "plug & play digitalisation" of means of transport with durable, certified and maintenance-free WavePointer Beacons (radio transmitters). In combination with the BiBo app "eJourney", which passengers install on their smartphone, this technology enables the automatic recording of mobility data using a Bluetooth interface and GPS module. BiBo (Be-In/Be-Out) means that the passenger does not have to do anything other than "travelling on public transport", the app automatically controls the recording - regardless of whether the app is operated in the foreground or background. As a result, the app knows just a few seconds after boarding, for example, that the passenger is on a public transport vehicle and in which vehicle, starts the journey and displays it directly to the passenger as an attractive live notification.

A key advantage of WavePointer beacons is therefore their ability to provide precise and signed evidence of passenger presence in the vehicle in real time - even underground - and to determine route chains precisely for each vehicle. This not only provides transport companies with reliable data on journeys, PKM, vehicles used, boarding and alighting stations, lines, fare zones and transfer processes or travel chains, but also opens up new use cases such as real-time utilisation at carriage level. It also guarantees that the same data is collected in all means of transport - always and everywhere. This is particularly important, as such surveys form the basis for fair, reliable revenue distribution (RDC).

Data security and attractiveness for users take top priority

WavePointer attaches great importance to protecting the privacy of users. The beacon technology limits the collection of movement data to the time and place of public transport use (i.e. "public transport only"), so that individual user data is only generated in public spaces and the privacy of passengers is protected to the maximum, naturally in compliance with the EU GDPR.

The technology also helps to conserve resources: Smartphone battery consumption and the volume of data required are reduced to a minimum, which promotes acceptance and long-term use of the solution among passengers.

Using the eJourney app, users can follow their own journey live and track it in a personal journey diary. It also gives them the opportunity to call up information about the kilometres travelled and the amount of CO2 saved compared to using a car. This feature not only does justice to the increasing environmental awareness of passengers, but can also increase their willingness to use public transport.

Interaction with APC systems and Deutsche Bahn

A central pillar of the success of the "Mit dir mobil" project is the close cooperation with key players in public transport. Under the leadership of the Central German Transport Association (MDV), the transport companies Regionalbus Leipzig GmbH, THÜSAC Personennahverkehrsgesellschaft mbH, Transdev Regio Ost GmbH and DB Regio Südost are participating in the project. The wireless "plug & play" equipment of almost 800 means of transport, in a good 300 vehicles with around 1,100 maintenance-free beacons, was quickly implemented and these vehicles have been in use on selected routes in the MDV network area since the beginning of 2025. In road transport, the districts of Leipzig and Altenburger Land are covered by appropriately equipped buses. In rail transport, the S-Bahn lines of the MDSB-I network as well as the RE50 line of DB Regio Südost and the RB110 of Transdev are included in the project across district borders.

In combination with the WavePointer eMobilityCloud, DB.RES is providing valuable support to the project with its extensive expertise in generating reliable demand data. The scalability of the solution is impressively demonstrated by the data collected: In DB Regio AG's rail transport alone, around 95,000 journeys with a good 5.1 million train kilometres were included in the extended project period up to the end of June. This corresponds to a coverage of around 37% of the entire traffic of the DB Regio Südost networks with MDV network share.

The direct cooperation of the WavePointer Cloud solution with the existing APC systems (automatic passenger counting systems) of DB.RES has proven to be particularly advantageous. DB.RES has comprehensively checked and analysed the recorded movement data. As part of this analysis, the information was weighted with counting data from APC systems, among other things. This made it possible to significantly improve the overall statements and to achieve remarkably good results even in the pilot phase with growing user numbers. A simulated productive operation for DB Regio-Verkehre, which involved the continuous daily processing of mass tracking data in conjunction with weighted volume data from APC systems, was successfully completed. This combination of tracking app and beacon guarantees transparency and traceability in real time and allows the data relating to the company's own network to be processed and utilised independently. The assessments of usability and representativeness conclude that the future use of the new technology can be confirmed both for tariff planning purposes and as part of the revenue sharing process.

Participation and flexibility for all passengers

Passengers taking part in the project first register on the relevant MDV project page and install the WavePointer eJourney app on their smartphone. The MDV survey campaign is activated via an activation code that guarantees the passenger pseudonymised participation. The app then works fully automatically via Be-In/Be-Out in conjunction with the WavePointer beacons, which communicate via the Bluetooth interface. For passengers, this also means that they do not have to do anything other than travel. Passengers without a smartphone are offered the alternative of using ticket TAGs to also participate in the project.

"We are delighted to be making a valuable contribution to the digital transformation of public transport with our innovative technology and the successful integration into existing data landscapes, such as the APC systems of DB.RES," says WavePointer. "The results in the MDV network area confirm the enormous support potential of our solution for performance-based revenue distribution and the generation of valuable usage data. We look forward to further scaling and future integration into the IT landscapes of other transport companies." The pilot project, originally planned to run from January to March 2025, has been extended as a field test. WavePointer is ready to play a key role in shaping the future of passenger data collection and revenue sharing in public transport.

Future prospects

MDV and DB.RES emphasise the high potential of the technology for the future: "This new technology has the potential not only to support the performance-based distribution of revenue from regional and national ticket sales to the various transport companies in future, but also to generate valuable usage data on the tickets sold, such as frequency of use, geographical use and transfer relationships. A separate module with dynamic survey functionality and direct customer contact will supplement the scope of information in future. In addition, existing CiCo/CiBo systems can also be massively supported in the collection of passenger data using beacon signals."

The WavePointer App & eCloud technology already fully supports the requirements of the UUAG NDE & EAV D-Ticket Level 3 for calculating revenue distributions for the Deutschlandticket fare.