AI-Powered Passenger Counting to Optimize Public Transport in La Spezia
ATC Mobility and Parking S.p.A. (https://mobpark.eu/) has been operating since March 2005, supporting urban mobility services for the Municipality of La Spezia. Initially focused on road signage management, the company progressively expanded its operations to become a key player in parking and mobility services across the territory.
Managed Infrastructure
Today, ATC Mobility and Parking manages:
Approximately 800 rotating parking spaces, exclusively for cars, without resident permits or monthly subscriptions
Around 9,000 parking spaces available without time limits
Park Centrospedale (opened July 1, 2009): 140 rotating spaces
Park Centrostazione (opened September 17, 2011): 218 total spaces, of which 170 are rotating
Park Kennedy: 140 parking spaces
Parking management in the tourist locations of Manarola and Monterosso (Loreto and Fegina parking areas)
Over the years, ATC has strengthened its role as a strategic mobility operator, with increasing focus on service quality, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
The Challenge: Data-Driven Public Transport Management
In 2023, ATC launched a strategic initiative to enhance the management of public transportation services in La Spezia. The objective was clear: gain accurate, real-time insights into passenger flow and vehicle occupancy to optimize capacity planning and service quality.
ATC required a solution capable of:
delivering reliable, real-time passenger data
integrating with existing onboard infrastructure
supporting operational decisions based on objective metrics
The Solution: AI-Based Passenger Counting System
Following a strategic meeting at the NME 2022 trade fair in Milan, ATC selected NCM as its technology partner, recognizing the company’s expertise in Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence.
NCM developed an advanced passenger counting system based on real-time image analysis from the existing Dahua surveillance system, installed across all municipal buses in La Spezia.
The solution enables:
continuous monitoring of passenger flow
accurate estimation of vehicle occupancy
improved capacity management aligned with urban mobility demand
data-driven operational planning
By leveraging AI and visual data, ATC can now transform onboard camera streams into actionable mobility insights.
Value Delivered: Innovation, Efficiency, and Sustainability
Through this partnership, ATC Mobility and Parking reinforces its commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility by adopting advanced technological solutions that:
enhance service efficiency
improve the passenger experience
support smarter urban mobility strategies
enable data-driven decision-making
contribute to more sustainable resource management
Conclusion
The collaboration between ATC Mobility and Parking S.p.A. and NCM demonstrates how AI-powered Computer Vision can convert visual data into operational intelligence, supporting smarter, more efficient public transport systems.
This project represents a concrete step toward building a more connected, data-driven, and sustainable urban mobility ecosystem for the citizens of La Spezia.
Interested in a Similar Solution?
Would you like to explore how AI-based passenger counting could optimize your public transport operations?
👉 Contact us at info@ncm.ai
