Please explain: what exactly is your idea and what problem does it solve?
The theme chosen for the Innovation Cup 2008 was ‘Happy Travels by Public Transport’. The thought behind our innovation centres around the fact that having to stand in the train or on the underground and the stress of having to fight for a seat do not make travellers happy at all.

Our innovation allows for a simple way of informing the travellers on the platform about the number of seats available on the train they’re waiting for.
 
To do this, we follow these three steps:

• Step 1: Measure how crowded the train is (per compartment).
• Step 2: Send the data thus collected to the station for processing.
• Step 3: Inform the travellers of the availability of seats in the incoming train, preferably using coloured lights

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The traveller can use this information to position him or herself on the platform near the arrival point of those compartments that have sufficient seating capacity. The transport companies can also use the data collected to better align the deployment of their rolling stock to the actual demand. That way, they too can benefit from the innovation.

Why did the jury crown your idea with the Innovation Cup?
Of three ideas submitted, ours stuck the closest to the theme. Our innovation focuses on an actual aspect of the journey, while the others offered solutions to issues of secondary relevance. Moreover, the jury believes our innovation can be realised in the short term, and they considered it a simple but effective idea (‘why didn’t I think of this myself?’).
 
Will your idea be actually realised?
The Innovation Cup brings ‘eternal glory’ and you get to keep the trophy for a year. However, as early as during development and right after the award ceremony we were already approached by a number of transporters. The first meetings have already taken place, and at the request of the interested parties we will further develop the innovation. Perhaps a pilot will be run in the short term to find out the extent to which the expected benefits actually work out.

What are the challenges in your sector, and what might an engineering firm like Grontmij do with them?
One trend in the rail world is the shifting of responsibilities within a project. While principals used to put out the engineering and the realisation separately (to an engineering firm and a contractor respectively), those duties are nowadays put out to tender together as much as possible. This allows for the design and the execution to be better aligned to one another.
 
This trend requires a new approach from both the principal and the engineering firms and contractors. All parties are slowly getting increasingly used to their ‘new’ role, but there are certainly still a number of areas that could be improved.
 
Grontmij has a ‘double role’ in this new situation. As the principal’s advisor, Grontmij translates the client’s demands and desires into a contract document, which may be put out to tender. Grontmij then inspects the contractor’s product to see if it meets those demands and desires.
 
But we can also work the other way around: as a contractor’s advisor, Grontmij translates the demands and desires of the principal into an execution plan. Our experience with the one role positively influences the way we play the other.