Thailand just opened the Tha Chang and Sathorn smart piers as part of the ‘Smart Pier Smart Connection’ project. These smart piers connect water transportation with other commuting facilities, such as buses and trains. The goal is to make it easier for citizens to travel, ensure their safety, and make transportation environmentally friendly.
Five piers have been constructed or renovated so far, namely Marine Department, Saphan Phut, Nonthaburi, Tha Chang and Sathorn. It is expected that another six piers will be constructed/renovated in 2022, namely Tha Tian, Rajinee, Kiak Kai, Bang Pho, Rama VII, and Phayap.
Thailand plans to develop 18 more piers between 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, the touristy island of Phuket announced to be ready to roll out smart piers to promote Phuket’s Safe Tourism campaign.
The smart pier includes a pier management system and services to visitors. Some of the most important features include an intelligent passenger management system and wristbands to help track tourists in case they require assistance. The system has functions to register tourists when they buy tickets by using their ID cards or passports. The marine department will store the data in its cloud system.
Tracking devices and an emergency system will be installed on every tourist boat. The devices will automatically send tracking signals to a command center to quickly locate any tourist boat in an emergency.
(Sources: The Nation; Bangkok Post)
