4 research outputs found
INVESTIGATING ICT SOLUTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT IN THE FREE STATE: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
ThesisInefficiencies in the public transportation system in the Free State province resulting in poor quality public transportation has led to the investigation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions to improve the system, through integration, and the challenges and opportunities that may result from this integration.
This research investigates ICT solutions for public transportation improvement focusing on the challenges and opportunities for all stakeholders of the public transportation system. Critical review of South African legislation and policies on public transportation and ICT was carried out. This was to review government laws and policies governing public transportation development. It also reviewed how the government planned on improving public transportation, developments so far based on those plans and future plans, and how these legislations by the government have been carried out in the Free State province. A theoretical framework was developed to lay out expectations for the integration process including the adoption of technologies and adaptations to the new integrated public transportation system based on technology acceptance and diffusion theories. Questionnaire and Interview surveys were carried out on public transportation vehicle owners, drivers, public transportation users and non-users to assess the current state of public transportation, their needs that could potentially be solved by ICT and the challenges likely to be faced. The use of questionnaires was also to assist in identifying and defining elements needed for successful integration of ICT into the system. ICT experts, transportation planners, academics, public transportation owners and users were also interviewed to gain more understanding and insight on ICT solutions, the public transportation systems, technologies for potential use in the public transportation system and challenges that may arise due to integration
Perspectives of the stakeholders of the public transportation system on ICT solutions applicability in the Free State, South Africa
Published Conference ProceedingsInformation Communication Technologies have recently been adopted by transportation systems
around the world to improve their services. In adopting these technologies, the stakeholdersā
involvement and perceptions regarding ICT should be considered. This paper, considering the
study area, reflects on the perceptions of different stakeholders of the public transportation system
towards the introduction of ICT solutions to the system. The methodology adopted was to
understand the expectations of drivers, passengers and operators on integrating ICT solutions into
the public transportation system, focusing on mini-bus taxis and Interstate Bus Line buses. The
significant results of the study show that ICTs are anticipated and long overdue development to
the system but the stakeholders have varying expectations. These results reflect on the priorities of
the stakeholders, i.e., passengers yearn for improved service quality; drivers are concerned with
their working conditions while the operatorsā interests are profit motivated. This paper highlights
the ICT interests of passengers, drivers and operators. It compares passengersā needs, in terms of
technologies, to improve the public transportations system against what the operators are
enthusiastic to provide
Perspectives of the stakeholders of the public transportation system on ICT solutions applicability in the Free State, South Africa
Published Conference ProceedingInformation Communication Technologies have recently been adopted by transportation systems
around the world to improve their services. In adopting these technologies, the stakeholdersā
involvement and perceptions regarding ICT should be considered. This paper, considering the
study area, reflects on the perceptions of different stakeholders of the public transportation system
towards the introduction of ICT solutions to the system. The methodology adopted was to
understand the expectations of drivers, passengers and operators on integrating ICT solutions into
the public transportation system, focusing on mini-bus taxis and Interstate Bus Line buses. The
significant results of the study show that ICTs are anticipated and long overdue development to
the system but the stakeholders have varying expectations. These results reflect on the priorities of
the stakeholders, i.e., passengers yearn for improved service quality; drivers are concerned with
their working conditions while the operatorsā interests are profit motivated. This paper highlights
the ICT interests of passengers, drivers and operators. It compares passengersā needs, in terms of
technologies, to improve the public transportations system against what the operators are
enthusiastic to provide
Possible Challenges of Integrating ICTs into the Public Transportation System in the Free State Province, South Africa
Published ArticleThere is need for ICT in the Free State public transportation system and
for its implementation to be successful, information is needed on the needs of the
various stakeholders and assessment of whether those needs are possible to fulfill
using ICT solutions. The conventional and traditional poor quality transportation
system needs to be improved. ICTs have shown to be the ultimate solution to most
public transport problems. For successful ICT integration, implementation and
operation of these ICT solutions to improve the public transportation system challenges
may be encountered which has to be addressed. This study investigates the
challenges which are likely to be faced by the different stakeholders at the different
levels of the integration process