Using data analytics to help Northern Ireland pupils ‘BSafe’

In the second of our blog posts on SBRIs, we’re looking at how data solutions can meet the complex needs of smart transportation.

In October 2017, the government issued a challenge inviting companies to support the Education Authority for Northern Ireland (EA NI) in improving the way it delivers home-to-school transport.

With a workforce of over 40,000, EA NI is responsible for delivering services which it describes as “the cornerstone of a successful society”.

By late 2017, around 89,000 pupils benefitted from transport assistance provided by EA and the organisation set out to find a data solution that could potentially increase convenience for pupils, improve fleet logistics and assist pupil safety and security.

The Analytics Engines team were among a number of companies selected to participate. According to transport manager at EA NI Dale Hanna, the SBRI process gave the organisation:

“an opportunity to work with some of the most innovative and most creative organisations in Northern Ireland”.

The Department for the Economy and Matrix NI has created a video telling the story of the initiative and how companies harnessed live data to support school transportation.

Listen in at 1m 24s to hear our Head of Data Solutions Conor Dumigan describe how ‘Cobalt BSafe’ enabled EA to “better maximise resources” and operate a more efficient service:

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