2. Description of ASA “Sokol”
Automated system of administration (ASA) “Sokol” of a LLC “Group of
companies ISKANDER” is a system, which calculates the number of people in
queues and uses the method of mathematical treatment of information from
video cameras.
ASA “Sokol” allows to determine quantitatively the length of a queue of any
configuration to the ticket-office or to any other object, which aims at
providing service to people standing in the queue.
The system helps to inform automatically an operator by sending out text
notifications, notifying about the necessity to reduce the queue. The way to
reduce the queue may be either opening of an additional ticket-office or
elimination of technical problems, occurred while working with the client.
3. Description of the system
Queue is always considered by a customer as a negative factor. Customers often
spend more time waiting in the queue at the ticket-office or counter, than they spend
making their choice of the service or the goods. Any consumer dreams of being a
customer of a company without queues. A queue is a factor which helps customers to
make their opinion about the service provided by a company.
Neglecting the necessity to control queues will cause inefficient use of company
resources, as well as constant dissatisfaction of the customers and lower level of their
trust to the service.
ASA “Sokol” is meant for optimization of operations made by cashiers and cash-
registers and other objects which tend to have long queues.
Obtaining and keeping systematically update information about the workload, it is
possible to regulate the operations of objects, draw conclusions about quality of work of
personnel and make up efficient management solutions.
4. Solution of a problem of making
up optimal work schedule of
cashiers, using statistics
Improving quality of service given
to customers
Reducing average time of standing
in queues in front of ticket offices
Equal distribution of work among
cashiers
Optimization of the cashiers‘
personnel
Objectives of the system
queue length efficiency
5. Mathematical device in terms of ASA
“Sokol” takes into consideration only people
standing in the specified zone, ignoring
moving objects
Background of the image, bags, posts and
other static objects are ignored
Setting of the mathematical device comes
to determining sensitivity of detector, shape
and size of zone, period of update and relative
size of a person
At the present moment calculation of the
workload of the ticket office can be
implemented in per cent of the workload of
the zone and/or directly in the number of
people standing in a queue
Mathematical device of ASA “SOKOL”
6. Interface of ASA “Sokol”
Flexible and handy interface of the system
allows configuring optimally the settings
of a system in compliance with the needs
of the company.
Depending on the needs of a certain
company the system is supplemented
with necessary program modules.
One module / video channel can process
data from several cameras.
Recordings are formed directly from
interface of the program in format xls, xlsx
or any other type.
There is a possibility to send recordings
via text messages.
Window of detector settings allows to set
area of coverage. Limits and sizes of the
zone are indicated in this window using
graphic interface.
7. Division of data access rights in compliance with operators rights
Automated measurement of the queue occupancy in front of the railway stations
ticket-offices
Keeping of results of measurement
Storing of video data
Analysis of results of measurement
Increase in quality of passenger service on the basis of analytical data
Shortening of average waiting time in queues in front of ticket offices
Distribution of occupancy of cashiers, which leads to the fact that cashiers are
tired less and the service quality increases
Optimization of cashiers personnel, including its reduction or shortening of
number of working hours, what will lead to costs cut of salary budget
Text notifications in case of threshold peak meanings of the queue
Video control for the ticket offices hall
Functions of ASA ”Sokol”
8. It is possible to upload and look through the system reports as in graphical form and in
electronic tables (format xls or other which are available for the following process and
storage.
The possibility of text notifications is foreseen in the system in case the threshold peaks are
achieved. The peaks are specified individually.
Report types of ASA “Sokol”
Axis Y – loading in
percentage or in number of
people. Axis X - time
periods with specified
discretion.
Data is provided in the form of a table.
9. The following components are parts of the system:
Video cameras
Video server with software
Automated work places of operators
System of transfer line of analog and digital signals
Certain software ASA “Sokol”
Content of ASA “Sokol”
10. Number of workstation is unlimited. Process server can be a workstation.
Possible scheme of building the block ASA “Sokol”
12. Integration ASA “Sokol” in system ASA SPC allows to control efficiency of the
operations of ticket offices and automated work places of cashiers, as well as
work of cashiers in system ASA SPC and their professionalism.
It helps to determine work load peak, explained by train schedule, part of the day
or season and to make up the optimal work schedule.
Complex system helps to automate making up work schedules of cashiers and
ticket offices at overloaded stations and optimize costs for salary budget and
cashier trainings.
Integration in system ASA “Sokol”
13. Economic efficiency of ASA “Sokol”
Schedule of occupancy of operation hall consisting of 2 ticket-offices, during working days for 2
seasons
14. Economic efficiency of ASA “Sokol”
Relying on qualitative research of the given graphic, the following statements are concluded:
1.In periods I, II, III, V the queue is minimal, and the second ticket-office is not needed.
2.In the first season there are 2 determined peak meanings, which do not exceed the threshold of the
service refusal. Therefore, in this season it is necessary to open an additional ticket-office only in periods
II and IV. It will allow to involve the second cashier only in these periods and lower the costs for salary
budget.
3.In the second season, for the reason that the number of passengers is growing (seasonal changes)
peaks can alter, moreover, in the periods of peak loading the queue length can exceed the threshold of
service refusal, making passengers to use alternative types of transport (buses, minibus taxis). Therefore
it is recommended as well as in the previous point not to shift the second ticket-office in the mode of full
operation. Moreover in the periods of peak loading it is recommended to involve an additional ticket-office
in order to prevent the service refusal.
Using of ASA “Sokol” helps to make more detailed and exact analysis of distribution of the queue length
as in short-term and long-term periods.
It will allow to optimize cashiers occupancy during the work shift, take into consideration seasonal
changes of occupancy, cut costs for salary budget, avoid income loss and go to a higher level of
operation.
15. ASA “Sokol” in operation
Number of people standing in a queue: 7 to 8
17. All products of LLC “Group of companies ISKANDER” are accompanied with 24-
hours technical support.
A user can always contact the company’s specialists and get the competent
assistance.
System devices are monitored on-line constantly. Emergency incidents are
controlled and eliminated by regional service centers.
System users are constantly trained. Training accompanies tutorial prospects
edition, user guides and other materials in compliance with actual versions of ASA
SPC.
Users support
18. Adoption of ASA SPC in RF will allow to unite suburban companies in one
information field, which will help:
Passengers to effect trips to far distances using resources of different suburban
companies.
SPC to optimize data exchange within information limits and cut costs connected
with maintaining of its own information resources.
This approach will allow SPC to standardize quality of service and providing with
travel services to all groups of people and in compliance with TQM requirements.
Prospects for further development
19. LLC “Group of companies “ISKANDER”
LLC “Group of companies “ISKANDER” was created in 2010. The main branch of company
activities is automation of passenger railway transportation. It cooperates with JSC “Russian
Railways” and suburban passenger companies.
LLC “Group of companies “ISKANDER” presents the following unique hardware-software
products:
ASA SPC (Automated system of administration of suburban passenger company)
ASA “Sokol” (Automated system of administration “Sokol”)
CSAC “Biosmart” (Control system and access control “Biosmart”)
Hardware-software complexes, supplied by the company, allow to improve quality of service
passengers are provided with, and to redefine suburban transportation.
Competitive advantages of LLC “Group of companies “ISKANDER” are:
Qualified personnel
Responsible approach to project realization
Quality of offered services is the main criteria of work
High level of comfortable work with system both for the passenger company and for the
passenger
Ergonomic and modern equipment, offered to clients
Quick reaction to the clients’ requests
