A New Generation of the ASPPM Made by NIIEVM JSC Is Installed on the 3rd Line of the Minsk Metro

On 6 November 2020, the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko took part in the solemn opening ceremony of the first four stations of the 3rd line of the Minsk Metro. The head of the state came down to Kavalskaja Slabada station, where the official part of the ceremony was held, through the turnstiles by means of a magnetic card, made at NIIEVM JSC. This SAMI company, in accordance with the General Plan of the Belarusian capital and the “Scheme of metro development”, in the interests of the Minsk Metro completed the development of hardware and software of the access control system (ACS), as well as of the automated system of passage payment monitoring (ASPPM) for the 3rd line stations’ equipment.

The new equipment has a modern design and meets the requirements both in terms of passenger ergonomics and element base, metal intensity, energy consumption and vandal resistance. Modern innovative approaches to building the entire system have been applied.

The work was performed in two stages. At the first stage, NIIEVM JSC carried out research and development work on the creation of new models of input and output turnstiles, which use modern microprocessor element base with extended functionalities. An intelligent system for permitting and banning of passenger passage was developed and applied, providing both traditional mode with permanently open leaves and the mode with permanently closed leaves. Existing fare collection systems, including payment by bank cards, are integrated into the entrance turnstiles. There is a highly reliable CAN bus for the connection of internal electronic modules, and Ethernet interface for the connection with automated workstations (ARMS).

At the second stage, NIIEVM JSC developed the ASPPM. It includes a new model of automated workstation for initialisation of tickets, a device for checking trips and other equipment. The software for prototypes was carried out by IBA Group company – the leading developer of special application software.

At present, NIIEVM JSC has completed the development and supplied for the 3rd line of Minsk metro a hardware and software complex of ACS, consisting of 19 sets of various automated workplaces and 74 turnstiles.

It should be noted, that the developed ASPPM, as well as entrance and exit turnstiles are used to modernise the existing metro stations, in particular, Plošča Lienina and Plošča Pieramohi stations.

The results have shown high economic efficiency of the new ACS and contribute significantly to the improvement of the capital’s transport infrastructure.

In 2020, NIIEVM JSC jointly with Belarusbank JSC, Minsk City Executive Committee and Minsk Metro SOE began to work on the use of the facial recognition system for passage payment in the ASPPM. The algorithm is based on the artificial intelligence and machine learning, which can even take into account the ageing of the passengers.

At the moment, the first biometric terminal in our country is operating in the pilot mode at Plošča Lienina station. Employees of Belarusbank and the Minsk Metro are testing it.

At the initial stage, the facial recognition system for passage payment in the Minsk Metro will work at Plošča Lienina station and one of the third line’s station. In the future it is planned to improve the system within half a year, as well as on the basis of the customers’ feedback.