Themis

POV from inside
train mockup

Inspiration

Every day, millions of commuters rely on trains to reach their destinations. However, despite having multiple train cars, passengers often instinctively gather in the cars closest to station entrances, escalators, or exits. As a result, some cars become dangerously overcrowded while others remain underutilized.

This imbalance inspired us to ask a simple question:

"What if passengers could know which train car is less crowded before boarding?"

Rather than expanding infrastructure—which requires significant time and investment—we wondered if artificial intelligence could optimize the use of the infrastructure that already exists.

That idea became the foundation of PROJECT THEMIS.

Problem

Overcrowding inside commuter trains creates challenges that extend far beyond passenger discomfort.

Uneven passenger distribution leads to:

Overloaded train cars while other cars remain relatively empty. Longer boarding and alighting times, causing delays throughout the rail network. Increased safety risks during peak hours due to excessive crowd density. Uneven mechanical stress on train components such as bogies and suspension systems, potentially increasing maintenance needs over time. Limited real-time information for passengers and operators regarding carriage occupancy.

Current solutions often rely on manual monitoring or passengers making decisions based solely on visual observation, which is inefficient and frequently inaccurate.

Solution

PROJECT THEMIS (Train Health Evaluation, Monitoring, Intelligent Surveillance) is an AI-powered smart passenger distribution system designed to create safer, more balanced, and more efficient train operations.

Using four ceiling-mounted fisheye cameras in each train car, THEMIS continuously analyzes passenger density in real time through computer vision and spatial occupancy analysis.

The system then:

Detects real-time occupancy levels inside every train car. Generates a spatial occupancy map for accurate crowd analysis. Predicts overcrowding before it becomes critical. Recommends better passenger distribution to less crowded cars. Provides operators with live monitoring dashboards. Supports preventive maintenance by analyzing long-term load distribution using the CALES (Carriage Adaptive Load Evaluation System) module.

By transforming real-time visual data into actionable operational intelligence, THEMIS helps improve passenger safety, optimize train capacity, reduce delays, and support smarter railway operations—all without requiring major infrastructure expansion.

Closing Statement

THEMIS transforms raw visual data into intelligent decisions, enabling safer journeys, balanced passenger distribution, and smarter railway operations through the power of artificial intelligence