After the destination floor reservation system DCS was put into use, passengers did not accept it, the utilization rate was low, and congestion actually increased during peak periods.
The Destination Control System (DCS) is the core technology of intelligent elevator control. After a destination floor is entered on the touchscreen in the elevator lobby, an algorithm assigns the optimal elevator, improving transport efficiency by 30% to 40%. This article provides a detailed analysis of the DCS system's working principles, fire linkage requirements, and engineering implementation key points.
Compared with traditional control methods, DCS has significant advantages. In the traditional method, passengers call the elevator at the landing door, enter the car, and then press the destination floor, causing the elevator to make multiple stops because it serves passengers for different destination floors. With DCS, passengers enter their destination floor outside the car, and the algorithm assigns an elevator, so passengers on the same elevator have similar destination floors, reducing the number of stops. Average waiting time drops from 45 to 60 seconds to 25 to 40 seconds.
The interface between DCS and fire protection codes is critical. According to the requirements of GB 50016-2014 and GB 55037-2022, in the event of a fire, DCS should automatically switch to fire mode, and all elevators should immediately cancel current commands and return directly to the first floor, open their doors, and wait. The system must retain traditional up/down call buttons as an emergency backup. Fire elevators do not participate in DCS assignment and remain under independent control. When DCS fails, it automatically switches to traditional control mode.
In engineering implementation, the outdoor touchscreen in the lobby should be installed at a height of 1.2 m from center to floor, using a capacitive touchscreen with fast response and long service life, brightness of not less than 1000 nits, and viewing angle of not less than 178 degrees. The touchscreen can also serve as an information display screen to show weather, news, and notices. The system should be linked with the access control system so that swiping a staff card automatically identifies the destination floor, and should interface with the hotel PMS so that room cards automatically authorize the corresponding floor. Traditional call buttons should be retained next to the first-floor landing door of each elevator.
Operation and management require a 2- to 4-week learning period, supported by guidance signage and usage instructions. Different allocation strategies should be adopted during peak and off-peak periods. Backend data analysis functions include indicators such as passenger flow by time period, average waiting time, and elevator utilization. The additional cost of DCS is about RMB 20,000 to 30,000 per elevator for new installations and about RMB 30,000 to 50,000 per elevator for retrofits, with an investment payback period of about 1.5 to 2 years.
Engineering experience includes configuring a large-font mode on the touchscreen for the convenience of elderly users. The elevator number assigned by DCS should be displayed simultaneously on the touchscreen and the LED screen in the elevator lobby so that passengers can quickly find the corresponding elevator. VIP mode provides a priority channel for important visitors. In retrofit projects, attention should be paid to whether the original elevator control cabinet has sufficient space.
The application of the DCS system in hotel scenarios should also consider multilingual interface support, an accessible operation interface, and one-touch direct access for the emergency call function. The system should support scheduled strategy configuration, automatically switching to high-efficiency mode during breakfast and checkout peaks and to energy-saving mode during late-night off-peak periods. The interface between DCS and the elevator's original control system should adopt standard protocols such as BACnet or Modbus to ensure system openness and scalability. Before system acceptance, a continuous operation test of no less than 72 hours should be conducted, all abnormalities should be recorded, and rectification should be completed. User satisfaction surveys should be conducted in the 1st month and the 3rd month after the system is put into operation, and system configuration and algorithm parameters should be continuously optimized based on feedback.
In addition to technical factors, the successful implementation of the DCS system also requires attention to user experience management. It is recommended to provide adequate usage training and guidance before the system goes live, and to set up eye-catching operation guides and video tutorials in the elevator lobby. Arrange guides to instruct passengers on site during peak periods. The touchscreen interface design should use large icons and concise text, with no more than three operation steps. The system supports a one-touch direct access function; for example, when no floor is selected, commonly used floor options are displayed by default. For hotel guests, it is recommended to integrate DCS with the room card system to enable card-swipe automatic elevator calling and destination floor assignment, reducing operation steps. Backend data analysis functions can help operations managers understand passenger flow patterns by time period and optimize elevator dispatch strategies and staffing. DCS system maintenance should include regular cleaning and calibration of touchscreens, inspection of communication lines, and software version updates to ensure the system always remains in good operating condition. Through careful user guidance and continuous system optimization, the transport efficiency advantages of the DCS system can be maximized.
In addition to technical factors, the successful implementation of the DCS system also requires attention to user experience management. It is recommended to provide adequate usage training and guidance before the system goes live, and to set up eye-catching operation guides and video tutorials in the elevator lobby. Arrange guides to instruct passengers on site during peak periods. The touchscreen interface design should use large icons and concise text, with no more than three operation steps. The system supports a one-touch direct access function; for example, when no floor is selected, commonly used floor options are displayed by default. For hotel guests, it is recommended to integrate DCS with the room card system to enable card-swipe automatic elevator calling and destination floor assignment, reducing operation steps. Backend data analysis functions can help operations managers understand passenger flow patterns by time period and optimize elevator dispatch strategies and staffing. DCS system maintenance should include regular cleaning and calibration of touchscreens, inspection of communication lines, and software version updates to ensure the system always remains in good operating condition. Through careful user guidance and continuous system optimization, the transport efficiency advantages of the DCS system can be maximized. DCS system compatibility testing should be completed before procurement, and suppliers should be required to provide compatibility certification documents with the existing elevator control system. On-site surveys for retrofit projects should include inspection of the internal space of the control cabinet, confirmation of the communication interface type, and verification of power supply capacity. The user feedback collection mechanism of the DCS system should continue to operate after the system is running, continuously optimizing algorithm parameters through satisfaction evaluations on the touchscreen and analysis of backend usage data. Data privacy protection of the system should comply with the requirements of the Personal Information Protection Law; facial recognition data shall be used only for elevator riding authentication and shall not be stored in the cloud, and the use scope of card-swipe data shall be limited to floor authorization and passenger flow analysis and shall not involve analysis of personal consumption behavior.
DCS system compatibility testing should be completed before procurement, and suppliers should be required to provide compatibility certification documents with the existing elevator control system. On-site surveys for retrofit projects should include inspection of the internal space of the control cabinet, confirmation of the communication interface type, and verification of power supply capacity. The user feedback collection mechanism of the DCS system should continue to operate after the system is running, continuously optimizing algorithm parameters through satisfaction evaluations on the touchscreen and analysis of backend usage data. Data privacy protection of the system should comply with the requirements of the Personal Information Protection Law; facial recognition data shall be used only for elevator riding authentication and shall not be stored in the cloud, and the use scope of card-swipe data shall be limited to floor authorization and passenger flow analysis. The daily operation and management of the DCS system should be assigned to dedicated personnel, including responsibilities such as system operation monitoring, fault handling, user training, and performance optimization. System administrators should regularly check system operation logs and promptly handle any abnormal records found. DCS system software upgrades should be carried out during off-peak periods, with data backup and recovery plans prepared before the upgrade. Manual backup of the system should be performed once a week, and automatic backup should be performed daily. Performance evaluation of the DCS system should be conducted quarterly, with evaluation indicators including average waiting time, passenger satisfaction, and system availability. The application of the DCS system in super high-rise buildings has its particularities. Elevators in super high-rise buildings usually adopt a zoned operation strategy, with different elevator groups set for the low, middle, and high zones. The DCS system should be able to identify the passenger's target floor and automatically assign them to the elevator group of the corresponding zone. Sky lobbies are usually provided between elevators in super high-rise buildings as transfer floors, and the DCS system should support transfer dispatch functions at sky lobbies. Customized DCS solutions for super high-rise buildings solve vertical transportation challenges and improve building operation efficiency.
Compatibility testing of the DCS system shall be completed prior to procurement, and suppliers shall be required to provide documentation certifying compatibility with the existing elevator control system. On-site surveys for renovation projects shall include inspection of the internal space of the control cabinet, confirmation of communication interface types, and verification of power supply capacity. The user feedback collection mechanism of the DCS system shall operate continuously after the system is put into operation, continuously optimizing algorithm parameters through satisfaction ratings on the touch screen and analysis of backend usage data. Data privacy protection of the system shall comply with the requirements of the Personal Information Protection Law; facial recognition data shall be used solely for elevator ride authentication and shall not be stored in the cloud. Daily operation and management of the DCS system shall be assigned to dedicated personnel, including responsibilities such as system operation monitoring, fault handling, user training, and performance optimization. System administrators shall regularly check system operation logs and promptly address any abnormal records discovered. Software upgrades of the DCS system shall be performed during off-peak hours, with data backup and recovery plans prepared before upgrading. Performance evaluation of the DCS system shall be conducted quarterly, with evaluation indicators including average waiting time, passenger satisfaction, and system availability. Through regular performance evaluation and continuous optimization, the DCS system is ensured to remain in optimal operating condition at all times, providing hotel guests with an efficient and convenient elevator experience.
Full lifecycle management of the DCS system requires integrated consideration of six stages: selection, procurement, installation and commissioning, operation and maintenance, and upgrade and replacement. During the selection stage, the building's functional requirements and user demographic characteristics shall be fully assessed to select a DCS solution with matching functions and reliable performance. During the procurement stage, contract elements such as technical specifications, service scope, and warranty terms shall be clearly defined. The installation and commissioning stage shall be the responsibility of the supplier's professional technical personnel to ensure installation quality of the system. During the operation and maintenance stage, regular inspection and maintenance plans shall be established to ensure stable operation of the system. During the upgrade and replacement stage, system software and hardware shall be upgraded as appropriate in accordance with technological developments and management needs. The successful application of the DCS system requires close collaboration among the user organization, supplier, and maintenance team, achieving maximum system value through scientific full-lifecycle management.