Cubic Transportation Systems is set to embark on an initiative with Imperial College London to create an innovation centre that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat fare evasion on public transit.
The partnership will investigate and apply AI and ML technologies to improve transit agencies' financial sustainability. The innovation centre aims to curb fare evasion, which Transport for London reports a loss of approximately GBP £130 - £150 million annually. Imperial College London's Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Lab experts will conduct research.
The centre will feature a 'tube station of the future', allowing immersive demonstrations with digital walls and customisable devices. It will also have dedicated seminar spaces for presenting research findings and discussing strategies in public transportation, including fare evasion solutions and meeting net-zero targets.
As part of this initiative, a world-class think tank will be formed, comprising scholars from Imperial's AI and Data Analytics Lab. Professor Danilo Mandic, Director of the AIDA Lab and Professor of Machine Intelligence, will lead this effort.
Professor Mandic said, "This collaboration is an opportunity for us to develop the transportation experts of the future. Our students and researchers will be working closely with Cubic to harness the latest innovations in technology to solve transportation's most significant challenges. We look forward to working together to develop new ideas, technologies and industry leaders."
Peter Montgomery-Torrellas, Senior Vice President and President of Cubic Transportation Systems, said, "By developing a centre that bridges industries, academic partners and government agencies, our aim is to discover better solutions for our customers and the wider public transit ecosystem, which will contribute to increased ridership and job opportunities. Our long-term vision is to replicate this model in key markets worldwide, expanding our industry-leading partnerships and ensuring innovation is at the core of everything we do."
To foster talent, the collaboration will establish an internship programme for Imperial College students, engaging them in integrating emerging technologies within the public transit sector. Cubic plans to announce additional partners from academic, nonprofit, and industry fields to further support the centre's mission.
The innovation centre will be based at Cubic's headquarters in Redhill, Surrey, and is expected to open its immersive facilities in September 2025. Until then, collaborative research will commence, aiming to address some of the most critical challenges the public transportation industry faces globally.
