MRCMH has a strong background and experience in smart card related research and consultancy. We have an excellent understanding and experience in the realm of multiapplication smart cards used to deliver urban applications (transport, leisure, payment, rewards schemes, accessibility etc) and urban policy objectives (mobility, social inclusion, economic regeneration).

Background
A smart card is basically a small portable computer. Smart cards can be programmed with information and executable programmes to perform a number of functions. These functions depend upon the memory and processing power of the card, and the electronic terminal to which it is presented.

Smart cards can provide applications which improve services to citizens, and make service delivery safer, cheaper and easier for service providers. The generic benefits include:

• The card’s ability to store and process information in a convenient, portable and secure manner;
• Greater speed and simplicity in the conducting of transactions;
• Access a greater range of services using one card;
• A secure way to authenticate users during a transaction;
• More secure, cheaper and more efficient service delivery;
• Reduce fraud and resistance to tampering and hacking;
• An opportunity to bundle a range of applications valued by the consumer on one card.

These generic benefits can expand in quantity and quality when applied within a multiapplication scheme environment. A multiapplication scheme is one in which users can undertake transactions in more than one service/application area with the same card. For example, one smart card becomes the citizen’s leisure pass, concessionary travel pass, library card, retail loyalty card and electronic purse for small transactions.

We have undertaken a range of work building smart card and smart ticketing, into the realm of Information and Communications technology (ICT) strategy.

This work centres on:
(i) strategy & business model development;
(ii) socio-economic impact assessment/evaluation;
(iii) user requirements/acceptance research;
(iv) consensus building and workshop design and facilitation;
(v) urban and regional transport and technological policy development and analysis.

Examples
Belgian Home Office Smart ID team
• Defining a costed research and development project to exploit the existing Belgian ID card

Northamptonshire
• Development of a County-wide strategy and business model for ITS and smart card usage and eGovernment

Vancouver Transport Authority
• Strategic review of integrated ticketing and electronic fare collection

Department for Transport
• A one year research project to utilise smart cards to monitor Northamptonshire’s modal split strategy. This has a particular emphasis upon new developments in the region

Black Country Smart Card Multiapplication City Card Consortium
• Strategic Consultant to the consortium which is part of Black Country Knowledge Society (BCKS), and is funded by Advantage West Midlands

Dundee Discovery (Dundee City Council)
• Project Director to the multiapplication card scheme introduced as part of the Scottish Citizen Account e-Government Project. Aim to evaluate existing eGovernment initiatives and define a consensual and sustainable business model. Project covered concessionary fares, taxicard, library, schools and leisure applications

UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister National Smart Card Project
• External auditor for the Business Model Work Package