Readers for inspection control
Readers for inspection control are hand-held devices that can read the data on the various ticketing media used by the transit agencies.
The objective is to allow the inspection personnel to view the data stored on the ticket, which cannot be viewed by visual inspection (unlike traditional paper and card tickets).
Readers for inspection control are usually modifications of off-the-shelf handheld computers. The reasons for this approach reflect the small volume of units required (which would not justify the cost of developing sector-specific products); the operating system and programmable nature of the devices, which can support the relevant application; and the transaction storage capacity.
Such devices invariably have display units and data transfer capability (port or wireless). If they do not already have the required functionality, the readers are then adapted or retrofitted with interfaces that can read the relevant ticketing media – magnetic-stripe tickets, contact smart-cards, contactless smart-cards, etc.
In some cases, portable electronic ticket issuing machines are fitted with card readers so that conductors or drivers can check customer passes. As the capacity of portable ETMs has greatly increased in recent years, this is increasingly practical. Further, a portable ETM with card reading capability could relatively easily be adapted for inspection and revenue protection purposes.
The main applications of hand-held inspection devices are:
- Verification that the customer has a valid travel document, for normal fare collection and transit area entry control.
- Verification that the customer has a valid travel document, for revenue protection purposes.
- Verification that the details stored on the card are consistent with what is displayed on the ticket.
- Checking for any anomalies in the data which may indicate (attempted) fraud or tampering with the ticket media and the data stored thereon.
- Recording revenue inspection activities, including vehicles and staff inspected, and their waybill numbers / totals for cross-checking with the staff waybill returns.
Benefits of hand-held inspection readers are:
- Allows conductors, drivers and transit area entry controllers to verify tickets, especially when the relevant data cannot be checked visually.
- Allows revenue protection personnel to carry out routine and more detailed inspections.
- Transaction data can be generated, for downstream processing.
- Using off-the-shelf technology, robust and reliable units can be obtained relatively cheaply.
- The readers are usually user-programmable, which allows rapid and low-cost application development.
- Application software can be adapted to meet changing requirements.
- Depending on the selected core reader, there may be substantial user experience from other non-transport sector applications that can assist software development and debugging, and downstream data handling.
Cautions with regard to hand-held inspection readers are:
- Need to pay good attention to specifying the application functionality.
- A moderate level of expertise is required to develop the application software.
- Inspection and revenue protection personnel need to be trained not only in the technical functions of the units, but also to truly understand what the data means and the potential significance of any anomalies.