A new system for transport ticketing has been proposed by experts at the University of Birmingham, with the aim of creating an integrated and transparent system that benefits both ticket providers and passengers across all modes of transport. Traditional ticketing systems have been criticized for their lack of transferability across multi-modal networks and their inability to adapt to policy changes and new technologies. The new approach, known as STUB (System for Ticketing Ubiquity within Blockchains), combines blockchain and ontology technologies to create a robust and interconnected data framework for ticket providers.
Blockchain technology, a distributed ledger system that ensures security, transparency, and immutability of transactions, is combined with ontology, a formal representation of knowledge within a domain, to create a system that enables ticket providers to sell and validate tokenised tickets on the blockchain. This system ensures universal accessibility across all providers and allows for the capture and sharing of contextual information about the transport network, including routes, schedules, and availability. This streamlined ticketing process aims to improve the overall user experience for passengers.
Lead author Dr. Joe Preece emphasizes the importance of creating a more transparent and flexible environment for ticket providers to operate in, ultimately benefiting passengers with a more user-friendly experience. The STUB approach is designed to empower existing ticket providers and technologies to share core ticketing data and build new solutions on top of this foundation, rather than being a central data platform with transport policy baked-in. The system aims to enable multi-modal ticketing, automated revenue and refund allocation, and dynamic fare pricing while leveraging existing technologies in the sector.
The researchers plan to set up a pilot scheme for the STUB technology in a regional transport network to demonstrate its efficacy and gather feedback from ticket operators and passengers. One of the key challenges to implementation will be integrating the technology with existing ticketing infrastructure to work alongside current standardized approaches while scaling up the technology. Setting up a successful pilot scheme will be crucial in breaking down barriers and ensuring the successful adoption of the new ticketing system.
In conclusion, the new STUB system for transport ticketing offers a modernized approach to ticketing that harnesses emerging technologies to overcome the limitations of traditional systems. By combining blockchain and ontology technologies, ticket providers can operate in a more transparent and flexible environment, ultimately leading to a better user experience for passengers. The next step for the research team is to set up a pilot scheme to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technology in a regional transport network and gather feedback from stakeholders in the industry. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the transport ticketing system and streamline processes for both ticket providers and passengers.