Observation Session 01

Over 5 consecutive Saturdays, the group came together, a volunteering working group to re-think the last Mile transportation, resulting in a possible solution to go on trial and studied. The working session was lead by Prof Tay Kheng Soon together with the BB Environmental Task Force members and thanks Tysentech for sponsoring the flexible bollards and the installation we now have a trial on site.
We conducted the first observation session. Here are some videos of the study. Nothing beats spending time observing to understand the situation.

Here to play the full list of video https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdc0gpCYq8MscQP1_2uP2R5eYkSHvT8T2

Some observations:

1. Users had taken notice of the flexible bollards.
2. They seem to have questions when passing by them.
3. They find the toys intriguing
4. Bicycles do slow down before finding a way to negotiate the turning
5. Sunday morning seems to have less user in the early morning
6. Some people use the edge of the path, walking over the drain
7. Some users had used an alternative route as they were not sure if they should what's happening to the path, perhaps daunted by the flexible bollards.
8. The fixing of the toy should be more secure.
9. Many had squeezed or touch the toy.
10. Perhaps we need to break down the age of the users and the type of users for the feedback form
11. We do have occasional users who have a strong opinion of rejecting the idea of the flexible bollards. They think it is a waste of time and money.
12. Site observation does provide some useful questions and considerations. It aids in composing the feedback questions.

2nd Working Session

Venue: Bukit Batok Community Club’s Conference Room

Date and time: 29th Feb 2020, 10am

Present： Prof Tay, Meng Foo, Sean Ow, Wei Liang, ShengYiYu, Chee Peng. Aided by Lim Siong

The meeting started with the introduction of Trakomatic and Tysentech to the working committee. The discussion was very fruitful as we achieved a better understanding of both companies’ products. Here we record a few pertinent points as follows:

Tysentech

1. Flexible Bollards are made of material that has a certain memory and could return to their position without causing excessive hurt to the offender.

2. Their material is durable and had been through stringent tests. Their products are commonly used in Korea. Recently they had just completed installation in one of the terminal in Changi Airport.

3. The company is most willing to help in carrying out trial of the bollard to mitigate the intersections of pedestrians, PMDs, wheelchairs (Motorized and manual), and bicycles.

4. Prof Tay suggested that the bollards should look friendly and adorable. Perhaps art pieces can be created using the bollards.

Trakomatic

1. Facial tracking and collecting data are their core competencies

2. They had install their products in the local malls such as Tampines Hub (400 cam) and Funan Mall (600 cam).

3. They have the local images analysed and converted to numerical data and stored in the cloud for retrievers and further analysis of the numerical data. No video footage is stored permanently remotely. Trakomatic will install their hardware and application locally, which would process the video footages into numerical data then sent them to the cloud for storage and retrieval.

4. Programming may take some times, commonly 3-6 months to customised the application. 

5. They suggested to invite Govtech into participating with the studies. We welcome their participation.

6. They showed their mobile camera units for some of their projects. 

7. Cost of implementation estimated for tracking could cost SGD$200,000.

8. Due to lighting condition it may affects results.

We thanked their presentations. Three bollards were used to test out the manual wheelchair and how it could manoeuvre the bollards. Out next course of action would be:

1. Present the idea to MP Mr Murali for the concurrence of a trial.

2. Carried out an initial investigation at a selected site with various PMDs, bicycles, and wheelchair.

3. Initial trial with the bollards to measure their effectiveness. 

4. Present the findings.

We took a site visit and see where are the suitable possibilities.

 

llards are made of material that has a certain memory and could return to their position without causing excessive hurt to the offender.

2. Their material is durable and had been through stringent tests. Their products are commonly used in Korea. Recently they had just completed installation in one of the terminal in Changi Airport.

3. The company is most willing to help in carrying out trial of the bollard to mitigate the intersections of pedestrians, PMDs, wheelchairs (Motorized and manual), and bicycles.

4. Prof Tay suggested that the bollards should look friendly and adorable. Perhaps art pieces can be created using the bollards.

Trakomatic

1. Facial tracking and collecting data are their core competencies

2. They had install their products in the local malls such as Tampines Hub (400 cam) and Funan Mall (600 cam).

3. They have the local images analysed and converted to numerical data and stored in the cloud for retrievers and further analysis of the numerical data. No video footage is stored permanently remotely. Trakomatic will install their hardware and application locally, which would process the video footages into numerical data then sent them to the cloud for storage and retrieval.

4. Programming may take some times, commonly 3-6 months to customised the application. 

5. They suggested to invite Govtech into participating with the studies. We welcome their participation.

6. They showed their mobile camera units for some of their projects. 

7. Cost of implementation estimated for tracking could cost SGD$200,000.

8. Due to lighting condition it may affects results.

We thanked their presentations. Three bollards were used to test out the manual wheelchair and how it could manoeuvre the bollards. Out next course of action would be:

1. Present the idea to MP Mr Murali for the concurrence of a trial.

2. Carried out an initial investigation at a selected site with various PMDs, bicycles, and wheelchair.

3. Initial trial with the bollards to measure their effectiveness. 

4. Present the findings.

We took a site visit and see where are the suitable possibilities.

3rd Working Session

Venue: Bukit Batok Community Club’s Conference Room

Date and time: 7th Mar 2020, 10am. Meeting Mr Murali at 1130am

Present： Prof Tay, Meng Foo, Sean Ow, Wei Liang, ShengYiYu, Wee Teck. Aided by Lim Siong

With the Slide prepared by Sean, the 3d SketchUp models of four different locations prepared by Shenyiyu and Syak, Prof Tay presented the idea of the trial to Mr Mural and provide a brief introduction of the products and services of Trakomatic and Tysentech with the possibility of involving Govtech as suggested by Andre of Trakomatic. Mr Murali was keen on the trial and we proceeded to look for a place to conduct the initial investigation. Wee Teck suggested the path that is under the care of Town Council would be the best place to start and mounting of the camera could be easier too. 

We selected the area just beside the cafeteria of the Community Centre. Next week we will plan for an initial investigate and would invite Tysentech and Trakomatic for discussion and site visit. Shengyiyu would also help prepare a 3d SketchUp model for the required study. Wei Liang will document the investigation in Video during the initial investigation. We would also require the help of Lim Siong to source for the PMD, bicycles and wheelchair. 

We do notice that the working committee members are predominantly male and would be good to have alternative view from the female gender. 

Next working session is set on next Saturday 14th Mar 2020, 10am, Bukit Batok CC conference room before proceeding to the site.