McMaster University researching RFID in public transit

The Hamilton, Ontario school has a lab developing a system that would let subway operators get the location of trackside workers through radiofrequency identification. Backers include train manufacturer Bombardier Inc. and the Ontario government

McMaster University is working with Bombardier Inc. (TSE: BBD.B ) on a radiofrequency identification (RFID) application that would let public transit operators track the location of crews working on subway tracks.

“The transit environments are quite tricky to work with,” said Pankaj Sood, founder of the McMaster RFID Lab (MRAL) in Hamilton, Ont. This, he said, is because some sections are above ground while others are below, which changes the behaviour of the RFID equipment.