Paratransit Software Report
June, 2009
Table of Contents
I.
II.
III.
Introduction
Scope of Work
Research Proposal
2
2
4
IV.
Software Agencies
Ecolane
A.
The Company
B.
History and Management
C.
The Software (Ecolane DRT ™)
Mobilitat
A.
The Company
B.
Mission Statement
C.
The Software
D.
Easyrides Starter
Functional Specifications
Routematch
A.
The Company
B.
The Software
CTS
A.
The Company
B.
The Software
Trapeze
A.
The Company
B.
The Software
Shah Software
8
8
Crystal Reports
MS SQL
Glossary of terms
Software Agency websites and contracts
Matrix of features
Some Case Studies
Results of a Transit Survey Conducted by Region 9
57
59
73
75
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
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V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
18
18
18
18
18
23
32
32
33
37
37
39
43
43
44
Region Nine Development Commission
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Paratransit Software Report
June, 2009
I. Introduction:
This report summarizes the research conducted by staff of Region Nine Development
Commission from August of 2008 until June of 2009. It is a comprehensive analysis of
the features and limitations of the six leaders in the paratransit software industry:
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Ecolane
Mobilitat
RouteMatch
CTS
Shah Software
Trapeze
While this report is intended to be a reference for Mn/Dot and DHS for the purposes of
outlining the features of these reports, Region Nine Development Commission; on
behalf of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/DOT) and the Minnesota
Department of Human Services (DHS); conducted this research based on criteria
outlined in the following scope of work:
Region Nine Development Commission, on behalf of the Minnesota Department of
Transportation (MN/DOT) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS),
conducted this research based on criteria outlined in the following scope of work:
Overview:
The Metropolitan Council, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of
Transportation (MN/DOT) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), is
soliciting proposals for a web-based paratransit scheduling and routing system. The
system will be hosted by the Metropolitan Council and utilized by multiple agencies
located over a broad geographic area for the purposes of coordinating rides.
The partner agencies are considering this a Pilot project for the purposes of testing an
online scheduling system that allows multiple access points for transit providers,
consumers and consumer advocates. The vision is the software can be used to create a
comprehensive transportation network of Public Transit Providers, Governmental
Agencies and Social Service providers to maximize existing resources and offer a higher
level of service for consumers.
The pilot project will be conducted in two phases bringing four different transit
providers on-board. The contractor must supply pricing for the two phases of the
project. The partner agencies are considering this project a demonstration for the
purpose of evaluating implementation of a large-scale system that may include up to
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multiple transit systems throughout the state. Pricing for the project should include
pricing for the first phase and optional pricing for phase two.
PHASE ONE
Phase one will be completed in two different stages. The vendor shall propose pricing
for both the onsite and offsite training. In addition, the vendor shall propose pricing to
convert the data from all three existing sites into a common data set.
STAGE ONE:
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Set up and installation at the Metropolitan Council to host the system.
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Training in the use of system for dispatch, reservations and administrative staff
at County A and County B.
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Go live support to transition County A/County B onto the new software.
STAGE TWO (Only after stage one has been successfully completed.):
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Training in the use of the system for dispatch, reservations and administrative
staff at RISE, Inc.
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Go live support to transition RISE, Inc. on to the new software.
POTENTIAL SITE DESCRIPTIONS:
County A
One potential site provides dial-a-ride, door-through-door paratransit service, deviated
fixed route and regular fixed route service in this county. It is part of the seven county
Twin Cities Metropolitan area. They currently used Trapeze PASS ™ for paratransit
scheduling.
This county’s dial-a-ride service is a reservation only, shared-ride transit service. Doorto-door assistance is available, with lift-equipped buses. This county coordinates dial-aride trips with surrounding communities.
One potential county could potentially operate Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA)
transit service for the Metropolitan Council. ADA service is a door-through-door,
shared-ride service for certified riders who cannot use fixed-route public transit due to a
disability or health condition.
Potential Site #2
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This site is a part of the Community’s Social Services Department. It would be in the
seven county Twin Cities Metropolitan area. It is a reservation-only, shared-ride transit
service. It offers bus service for the general public as well as a volunteer driver program
for medical and social service rides.
RISE, Inc.
RISE, Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation in Spring Park, Minnesota. RISE, Inc.
performs over 600 trips per day to persons with disabilities. Clients are transported to
employment sites to increase their vocational self-sufficiency and productivity. RISE,
Inc. offers person-centered career planning, vocational training, job placement,
supported employment, and housing support services so that people can work in the
community, earn competitive wages, live safely and comfortably, and make a productive
contribution to society. RISE, Inc. currently uses MapNet as its scheduling system.
Site Name
County A
Location
Location A, MN
Potential Site #2
Location B, MN
RISE, Inc.
Spring Park, MN
Vehicles
21 (small and
medium buses)
8 (small and
medium buses)
80 (small buses and
vans)
Annual Trips
114,000
48,000
120,000
PHASE TWO (OPTIONAL)
Upon the completion and acceptance of phase one, the Council will consider
implementing phase two which shall be conversion of the City of Hastings, River Rider
Transit and Metro Mobility and all associated subcontractors to the Software System.
Vendor shall itemize pricing to add each of these locations onto the existing system.
Site Name
River Rider Transit
City Hastings (TRAC)
Metro Mobility and
associated
contractors
Location
Big Lake, MN
Hastings, MN
Various locations in
the Twin Cities
Metro Area
Vehicles
12
4
350
Annual trips
77,770
32,355
1.7 Million
III. Research Proposal
After contracting with Region Nine Development Commission, Brent Pearson wrote this
Research Proposal. It is expected that the research conducted in this report will meet
each of these requirements.
1. Research Topic:
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To research licensed software proposals for a web-based paratransit scheduling and
routing system. This will include but is not limited to the following:
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Costs affiliated with the software package;
Compatibility with Internet Explorer and Firefox Operating Systems;
Accessibility for all Internet users;
Successful integration of software for paratransit system in pilot communities
(Scott/Carver Counties).
2. Methodology:
I.
Costs will be researched via comparisons to other paratransit systems
regionally, domestically, and worldwide. Additionally, proposals will be
researched through direct contact with software developing agencies.
II.
Compatibility will be researched and cross referenced with the Functional
Requirements established by the Region Nine Development Commission’s
“Scope of Work” and will include but is not limited to the following:
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Web-based interface;
Multiple agency functionality;
Access to rider information database;
Route scheduling and optimization;
Dispatch and monitoring of transit routes and times;
Mobile network for driver/vehicle communications;
Databases access and archived information.
III.
Database Requirements will be researched for compatibility with:
 Oracle 10g or Oracle 11g;
 ODBC and ODBC drivers.
IV.
Hardware Requirements will be researched with particular emphasis on
compatibility with Apache or Red Hat Linux servers.
V.
Servers: Apache, Red Hat Linux, and other servers as suggested by software
proposals will be researched and defined as background information for
preliminary assessment.
VI.
Training and Operation will be researched to ensure maximum efficiency of
software and operating systems
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VII.
Licensing will be researched to ensure that the system is owned by the
software agency or that necessary permission is granted to that agency for
utilization in this project.
VIII.
The warranty will be researched to ensure long-term effectiveness and
maintenance.
IX.
Instillation and testing will be researched to ensure that go-live deadlines are
met.
X.
References will be researched and checked to ensure that:
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Software agency has performed similar work in the last two years;
Experience and qualifications are met.
Systems Researched:
The following systems will be researched thoroughly as per the suggestions of the
Region Nine Development Commission:
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Trapeze
Mobilitat
Ecolane
Shah Software
Route Match
Alpha Wireless
CTS
MapNet as used by RISE
Additional software systems may be researched at the discretion of the researcher and
Region Nine Development Commission.
This research will include:
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Overall compatibility with the MnDot and Minnesota Department of
Human Services proposed paratransit scheduling and routing system
requirements
Successful integration in other communities
Limitations of the software
How the software can best be used to maximize effectiveness along
multiple transit lines and billing systems
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Additional Research:
Additional research will be conducted outside of the software and system requirements
to determine compatibility. This research includes but is not limited to:
I.
Comparison of the pilot counties (Scott and Carver) to communities that
have achieved successful integration for SWOT analysis of the system within
the pilot county.
II.
Survey analysis: Surveys conducted by Region Nine Development
Commission will be assessed to determine compatibility of research with the
paratransit software proposal. These surveys include the four key agencies
involved in successful integration:
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Questions for State of Minnesota Survey
Questions for Health Care Providers
Questions for County Human Services
Questions for Transit Providers
3. Expected Results:
I.
This research will be concluded before January 31, 2009. Region Nine
Development Commission will use it for further assessment of the joint
MNDOT and Minnesota Department of Human Services paratransit proposal.
Data and Information Collection:
I.
Multiple sources will be used for data collection. These include but are not
limited to:
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Minnesota Department of Transportation
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Scott County
Carver County
Direct telephone contact with software vendors
Websites of software vendors
Various city websites and appropriate staff
Technology firms
Census Bureau
Region Nine Development Commission Staff
Consultants specialized in the web-based operating systems
AARP “Enhancing Mobility Options for Older Americans”
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Mobilitat’s “Proposal to Region Nine Development Commission for
Dispatching Scheduling Software Program: Technical Overview”
Various Case Studies in rural and urban transportation modes
Various Internet research avenues
4. Analytical Technique:
Surveys, charts, graphics, and data collection will be used to present results. Region
Nine Development Commission, based on the facts presented in the research, will
conduct full analysis of the research.
5. Bibliography and References:
Full citation and bibliographical references will be provided for this research.
IV. Software Agencies:
Ecolane
I. Background
A. The Company:
Ecolane focuses on the development and sales of various ride sharing software. The two
software programs available via Ecolane are Ecolane DRT ™, and Ecolane Dynamic
Carpool ™.
Their Mission Statement:
Traffic continues to be one of the biggest problems in many cities and
countries, resulting in congestions, delays, pollution and wasted money.
Ecolane addresses this problem by offering end-to-end solutions for daily
commuting, as well as business travel by effectively matching more than
one person per vehicle. Ecolane’s software solutions link together modern
mobile and Internet technologies to enable a completely new level of
service for our customers.
Source: www.ecolane.com
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History and Management:
Ecolane is a privately held company founded in 2002 by Sami Pöykkö and Antti Hannula.
Pöykkö, has a strong background in location-based services research at Nokia Research
Center, and Hannula is an entrepreneur with more than ten years of experience in
startup management, financing and marketing.
In addition to the founders, Ecolane's Board of Directors consists of Mr. Ilari Anttila, with
a background in the new technology development, and Mr. Paul Baan (founder of the
Baan Company) with a strong experience in the growth companies.
Ecolane’s current investors include:
George Avenue is a private equity fund, initiated by the Noaber Foundation
(www.noaber.com), which invests in the Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) sector to address the Digital Divide with a focus on sustainable development for
late(r) developing communities
Finnish Industry Investment Limited is a Finnish government-owned investment
company engaged in equity capital investments and direct investments in venture
capital funds, private equity funds and selected target companies.
Current President and US Representative, Ryan Larsen has worked in the transportation
industry for 24 years. He began his career working as a bus cleaners, worked his way up
through the ranks to driver, dispatcher, dispatch manager, and eventually found his
niche in software development.
Ecolane’s software:
Ecolane DRT ™ is a software program that is fully rule-based and ADA compliant. The
services it provides are broken down into four key components: 1. Reservation, 2.
Scheduling and Dispatching, 3. Management and Administration, and Mobile Data
Terminals (MDTs).
1. Reservation features include:
 Browser-based user interface
 Order scripting
 Fully configurable Points of Interest
 Multi-lingual
 Order tracking
 Self-Service web orders
2. Scheduling and Dispatching features include:
 Fully automatic scheduling
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June, 2009
Fully automatic dispatching
Integration to Public Transit Route Planner
Continuous optimization
Street-level routing
Configurable Service Rules
Manual override functions
Dedicated/reserve fleets
3. Management and Administration
 Fully configurable service rules
 Real-time monitoring
 Customizable reports
 GIS-based mapping
 Flex routes
4. Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs)
 Optional
 Automated work flow
 Click-to-call
 Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
 View job details and job logs
 Integration to existing MDTs
Ecolane DRT™ utilizes Crystal Reports as its reporting engine. These reports are
fully customizable. Over 20 standard reports are available via Ecolane DRT™ with
the customization and ad-hoc reports providing variety in reports. These can be
expanded to include federal reporting, billing, vehicle control, and the complaint
process.
Crystal Reports is used to design and generate reports from multiple data
sources. It is the primary report generator with Microsoft Visual Basic.
Currently, Crystal Reports is in its 12th version (released in 2008). After being
acquired in 2003 by Seagate Software (later, Business Objects) – an office
software developer – Crystal Services Inc. (the creator of Crystal Reports) was
acquired by SAP in October of 2007. SAP is currently the 4th largest softwaredeveloping agency in the world.
Ecolane DRT ™ also utilizes MS SQL drivers. This allows the software to generate
large amounts of data into Microsoft Word and Excel reports as well. For more
information on MS SQL drivers, please see the MS SQL drivers chapter in this
report.
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Ecolane is disciplined when it comes to trading information with its customers. If
awarded the contract, Ecolane will insist on provide documentation for all major
transactions to ensure that there are no misunderstandings when key decisions are
made. Ecolane will take the information reports requested in the RFP and conduct a
thorough study of a company’s business rules and current practices. Based on this study,
Ecolane will solicit a proposal of what the reports should look like, to their
understanding. Once awarded, the conversations are mutually inclusive, with the
sample reports written up by Ecolane during the RFP submissions phase being provided
to the user for their comments. That ensures that the software buyer/user is provided
with a comprehensive reports package. Additionally, Ecolane will trade paper reports
back and forth until they are satisfied that there is a complete understanding on how
the reports should look – based on the user/buyer’s specifications. In this way, any
reports generated by the software (samples provided in graphic) are fully customizable.
Ecolane’s Self Service Web Request is less complicated and is used for customers who
wish to schedule their own requests without the need of calling the office to speak to an
agent.
Web-Based Interface:
Ecolane is entirely web-based. This allows the users and the transit providers the
opportunity to coordinate rides from any web-enabled computer. The web-based
system allows for ease of navigation and use. Instead of opening new applications for
multiple tasks, the user and transit provider can simply click on a link to navigate the
features of the software. According to Larsen, other software agencies operating on
Windows-based software are using technology that is at least 14 years old. With a webbased system, there is no PC back-in or need for a PC at all (rides could technically be
scheduled from web-enabled phones and mobile devices as well), and the user can
access the web pages at any location at any point on the globe.
As a web-based system, Ecolane DRT ™ uses auto-correct to minimize typing errors
customers sometimes make when scheduling rides. This is incorporated everywhere on
the site, from scheduling and dispatching to client login and personal information boxes.
Like many websites that solicit personal information, if a box is empty or the typed
information is not inputted correctly, red text warnings appear on screen to prompt the
user to make the necessary corrections.
Operating System:
Ecolane DRT operates on a Linux Operating System. Ecolane can, however, operate on
an Oracle 10g or 11g database. Its overseas operations often use Oracle, but the
software here statewide uses Linux. The reasons for a Linux operating system are:
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
It’s free: which lowers the cost of the software to the consumer
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It’s stable: according to Larsen, there has not been one minute of unplanned
downtime in the past 13 months
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It has a fast development cycle: which increases the speed of which Ecolane can
deliver its product to the consumer, as well as any requested custom upgrades
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It’s scalable: it can handle an ever-growing amount of data and work and can be
scaled to the size of any transportation operation
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Security: it keeps private data safe
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It’s great at virtualization and can run windows as well
Independent Automation:
Ecolane is fully automated. This limits the amount of decision-making the dispatching
staff has to do. Ecolane’s automation has the ability to operate with a minimum of staff
interference. It frees up staff time to focus on problems that can only be resolved via
the human element. Problems such as vehicle breakdowns, driver/rider or rider/rider
conflicts (for example: Driver A can’t ride with Mrs. Smith for various reasons or Mrs.
Smith cannot ride on the same vehicle with Mr. Johnson), etc. are problems that require
the ingenuity and problem solving skills of human beings.
Consequently, the software will not reschedule manifests already in vehicles. For
automation to take effect, rescheduled rides need to be logged before the driver is in
route, or 55 minutes prior to the time of pickup. Once this happens, then dispatch
needs to manually make these changes. The full automation allows the dispatcher free
time to do this as needed.
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This graphic outlines Ecolane’s business model in a nutshell. Full automation frees up
staff to work on unplanned daily delays, and raises the performance of all employees of
any transportation operation across the board. Rather than have one star employee on
a five-member team perform at 95% productivity, automating the day-to-day tasks of
transportation providers raises the productivity of the entire staff to that of the star
employee.
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Ecolane recently finished a project in Arlington, Texas. Their daily On-Time Performance
(OTP) has increased to 95-97%. This graphic shows the benefit of full automation. This
report, generated by Ecolane’s software, shows how a daily OTP can be turned around
after a rough start – essentially, rebounding in the 7:00 a.m. hour to help close the day
at a 97% OTP success rate. According to Larsen, without automation, a tough start
could have a transportation operation playing catch up all day. It should also be noted
that the ability for this software to rebound quickly -- and adapt to daily challenges -can occur during peak hours (rush hours, lunch hour, etc.) as well.
Self-Service Web Request Feature:
Ecolane DRT ™ has a Self-service web request feature. Self service is a simple application
that is used for customers who wish to schedule their own requests without the need of calling
the office to speak to an agent. Here is how it works:
1. The customer clicks “Create a New Order”:
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Image courtesy of Ryan Larsen, Ecolane USA.
The screen above is the screen that a customer would access via a web-portal posted on
a remote site or the transportation entity’s website. At the top of the screen is where
the customer will be picked up. At the bottom of the screen is the customer’s
destination. In the pick-up section of the screen (appropriately labeled “from”) there are
four blank fields. Those fields are for the address street number, street location, and
city. There is an additional open field for notes.
Like the top section of the screen, the middle section has the same address fields, but in
this case the fields indicate drop-off location.
The bottom section is where the customer enters additional information about the ride
– i.e. funding, trip purpose, whether or not they need assistance, and number of
companions, children, if the rider needs an assistant and other passengers. These are all
configurable to any transportation entity. Also, this screen has a calendar to help the
customer select the right date for the trip.
2. After filling out the trip screen, confirm order:
Once the customer completes the check out,
they are taken to a confirmation screen that
allows them to cancel the trip, order a return
trip, copy the trip and return to the main page.
It should be noted that every successive screen
has prompts that prompt you to the next
screen. If any information is inaccurate or
incomplete, a red warning message will appear
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on screen instructing the user to make changes to his or her order. This is done to
ensure that the customer gets on the right trip, at the right time, with the correct billing
structure in place, and the correct number of additional passengers.
3. Set up trips for the future, make them reoccurring, or cancel a trip:
Image courtesy of Ryan Larsen, Ecolane USA
Above is an image of a customer’s travel history. This can be viewed by Ecolane staff, transit
operators, and the customer.
One interesting note is that this training link can be added to any website of the
provider. For example, MNDOT could place a link to the Self-Service web page directly
on http://www.dot.state.mn.us/. When the customer clicks on this link and creates a
new order, and then clicks on web-based training for customers, he or she can provide
their own notes to send to the drivers.
The one caveat is that the client must know what his or her funding source is. It is also
essential to be sure that the initial funding information is imputed properly. Multiple
billings sources can be utilized (see next section).
Billing:
Multiple billing sources are available. Ecolane’s DRT ™ software has the ability to
incorporate multiple billing agencies and multiple riders on one ticket. There is a
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funding sources pull-down tab that is fully customizable. To format this correctly,
Ecolane would need to be provided with all of the fund sources options available. If the
provider (or user) provides Ecolane with a list of funding sources, they can format the
billing component accordingly.
The only limitation to multiple billing sources is that the billing source cannot be
switched mid-ride.
In the event that there is a change in the number of billing sources, or rider variables,
Ecolane can make the necessary adjustments – either adding or deleting one or many
funding or billing entities – on their end. The user simply contacts Ecolane and provides
them with the change requests and Ecolane makes the changes. This takes
approximately five minutes or less. According to Larsen, Ecolane’s average response
time for 2008 on support request items was an hour or less. So, theoretically, a user
could drop or add a funding source from its billing component, log the support request
with Ecolane, and be using the new billing source in an one hour and five minutes.
Help Desk:
When a problem arises that requires aid of the help desk, a ticket is created and emailed to the user as well as to Ecolane’s Support Team. Ecolane then sends a response
e-mail letting the user know that the ticket has been resolved and what actions were
taken to resolve the issue. These issues are archived forever and can be viewed by both
Ecolane and the user for as long as it remains in the system – assuming, of course, that
either the user or Ecolane does not delete it. The Ecolane Help Desk is available 24
hours per day, 7 days per week. All tickets used in training are kept by Ecolane and
used to broaden its Frequently Asked Questions data and categorically used for future
training exercises.
Implementation:
Ecolane’s standard mode of operations for implementation of the software, upon being
rewarded with a contract, is as follows:
1. Ecolane arrives at the user’s site of operations. That visit
lasts approximately 2-3 days depending on the size of the
operation. There they observe the user’s logistics.
2. While observing, Ecolane staff will review the host
company’s business rules and procedures.
3. Based on the documents reviewed and information
gathered during observation, Ecolane staff will create a
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“Business Rules” document outlining in great detail what
Ecolane knows, what Ecolane has observed, and how it will
integrate the client’s business model into Ecolane’s
software format.
4. Ecolane schedules a meeting, either via phone or in
person, to outline point-for-point what they have
observed and provide for recommendations on how to
proceed with implementation of the software.
5. At this meeting, Ecolane will provide an implementation
timeline, with specific tasks and dates of completion. This
timeline is milestone driven (meaning: once Task A has
been completed, Task B can begin).
6. Ecolane then returns to the host site for a test week. This
is done to ensure that everything is going smoothly before
the software “goes live”.
7. Two to three weeks later, Ecolane will begin training staff
and essential personnel on how to use the software. This
is done as close to “Go Live” as possible, to prevent crossover mistakes while using two co-existing software. This
also ensures that the user’s training is fresh, and then once
fully trained, the user can discard old methods and
proceed with Ecolane formatting.
8. The Go-Live generally occurs 2-3 months after being
awarded the contract. According to Larsen, Ecolane was
able to “Go Live” in Arlington, Texas (see: case study) in as
little as 28-days but it was incredibly strenuous and there
are zero margins for error. A more realistic timeline is 2-3
months.
Google Earth:
Ecolane uses Google Earth for its mapping source. Google Earth is a virtual globe, map
and geographic information program that was acquired by Google in 2004. It maps the
earth through superimposed images obtained from satellite imagery, aerial
photography and GIS 3D globe. These maps are updated frequently, are current, and
allow the user an opportunity to view routes and vehicles by geocoding those routes
and stops onto the maps provided by Google Earth.
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Mobilitat
I. Background
A. The Company:
Mobilitat is a Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) in the states of
Wyoming, and Nevada, and has an application pending in the State of Georgia.
Mobility Works Inc., or Mobilitat, was founded by Cindy Johnson in Green River
Wyoming in 1998 to provide affordable paratransit scheduling software for smaller,
rural transit agencies. Since its inception it has grown to employ 6 full time staff, has
over 60 installed systems, 3 editions of its software, including advanced capabilities to
provide software for systems ranging from 2 to 150 vehicles.
B. Mobilitat’s mission statement:
Mobilitat’s mission is to empower Mobility Managers of small and medium transit
systems through consulting services and innovative computer aided dispatching
software and shared information. Rural and medium size urban Mobility Managers must
be equipped with the knowledge and the technology in order to stay in business. The
ultimate goal is to help them provide more rides (which equates to more revenue) from
their fixed investment (vehicle fleet).
Easy Rides was designed to help Mobility Managers increase accountability, increase
productivity and decrease the amount of time spent completing reports.
C. Mobilitat’s Software:
Easy Rides is a computer aided dispatching system developed by Mobilitat. It was
designed for use by rural demand response transit systems serving the elderly,
handicapped and the general public. The reporting capabilities of Easy Rides allow for
completion of Federal, State and local reports. Larger transit agencies of up to 150
vehicles use our more comprehensive software, Easy Rides Plus.
Easy Rides Plus can include GIS and Auto scheduling to facilitate the use of Mobile Data
Terminals (MDTs), swipe cards, and Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) systems.
D. Easy Rides Starter
Easy Rides Starter was designed for small rural systems with fewer than 10 routes.
Easy Rides Starter is fully upgradeable to Easy Rides for additional functionality. Easy
Rides Starter incorporates many features previously available only in very expensive
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software. For Easy Rides Starter, training is conducted remotely via GoToMeeting
online.
For Easy Rides Starter, no Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is used. Easy Rides
provides three levels of geographical discrimination: neighborhoods (sites), zones, and
jurisdictions.
Easy Rides Starter Features Include:
Scheduling:
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Clients Default Data Table
Enhanced Client Data Form
Frequented Addresses
Single Reservation Entry Point
Trip Tickets
Return Trips
Multiple Leg and Group Trips
Subscription Trips
Suppress Subscription Trips
Short-Term Repeat Trips
Temporarily Lock Out Clients
Point-and-Click Scheduling
Auto-complete Addresses
Dispatching:
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Multiple Screens at the Same Time
Undo/Redo Schedules
Point-and-Click Dispatching
Hide/Unhide Runs (Routes)
Color Coded Zones
Six Styles of Manifests
Export Manifest Data
Reporting:
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Comprehensive Ticket Archive
Comprehensive Report Generator
Export Report Data to MS Excel
New Clients This Month
Consolidate Redundant Addresses
Fare Reconciliation
Back/Up Restore Utilities
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Archiving Feature
Easy Rides Basic
Designed for small to medium sized systems, Easy Rides Basic has all the features you’ll
need in an affordable, easy to use package.
Easy Rides Basic has all of the features of Easy Rides Starter but with no limits how many
vehicles or routes you can operate. Easy Rides Plus included extra customizable lists for
recording extra data for clients and trip tickets. It also includes Trip Validation, an
enhanced dispatch board with a staging area, Route Parameter Replication (RPR) for
simplified scheduling and a Rides Analyzer tool to quickly get the data you need.
Training is provided via GoToMeeting and an onsite visit.
Based on Microsoft SQL Server technology, the Easy Rides database is open for
customers to develop their own analysis and reports using MS Access, Crystal Reports,
etc. In addition, Easy Rides provides export capabilities to Excel, an enhanced Report
Generator, and four standard reports.
Even without expensive Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Easy Rides provides
three levels of geographical discrimination: neighborhoods (sites), zones, and
jurisdictions. Grouping trips and reporting trip information is easier and much more
powerful using this advanced technology.
Easy Rides can filter the types of tickets that can be assigned to specified vehicles and
runs. Runs and vehicles may be reserved for certain funders, providers, and custom
parameters specified by the user. You can also check to see if seats and/or wheelchair
slots are available before assigning a requested trip.
Easy Rides Basic Features Include:
Scheduling:
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Clients Default Data Table
Enhanced Client Data Form
Frequented Addresses
Single Reservation Entry Point
Trip Tickets
Return Trips
Multiple Leg and Group Trips
Subscription Trips
Suppress Subscription Trips
Short-Term Repeat Trips
Temporarily Lock Out Clients
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Point-and-Click Scheduling
Auto-complete Addresses
Route Parameter Replication
Trip validation
Dispatching:
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Multiple Screens at the Same Time
Undo/Redo Schedules
Point-and-Click Disapatching
Hide/Unhide Runs (Routes)
Color Coded Zones
Six Styles of Manifests
Export Manifest Data
Dispatch board stage
No Route or vehicle limits
Reporting:
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Comprehensive Ticket Archive
Comprehensive Report Generator
Export Report Data to MS Excel
New Clients This Month
Consolidate Redundant Addresses
Fare Reconciliation
Back/Up Restore Utilities
Archiving Feature
Rides Analyzer
3 extra customizable trip lists
Customizable client lists
Support for secondary funders
Affiliations support
Easy Rides Plus
Easy Rides Plus is designed for medium to large systems that have more advanced
dispatching and reporting needs. Easy Rides Plus has all of the features of Easy Rides
Basic, plus Integrated Geographical Information System (GIS), Auto-Scheduling,
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), Customizable manifests, and additional reporting
capabilities. Easy Rides includes all of the features important for operating an efficient
transit organization. Training is provided via GoToMeeting and onsite.
Easy Rides Plus Features Include:
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Scheduling:
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Clients Default Data Table
Enhanced Client Data Form
Frequented Addresses
Single Reservation Entry Point
Trip Tickets
Return Trips
Multiple Leg and Group Trips
Subscription Trips
Suppress Subscription Trips
Short-Term Repeat Trips
Temporarily Lock Out Clients
Point-and-Click Scheduling
Auto-complete Addresses
Route Parameter Replication
Trip validation
Auto Scheduling
Optional Trip Import tools
Sub-set Optimization
Dispatching:
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Multiple Screens at the Same Time
Undo/Redo Schedules
Point-and-Click Disapatching
Hide/Unhide Runs (Routes)
Color Coded Zones
Six Styles of Manifests
Export Manifest Data
Dispatch board stage
No Route or vehicle limits
GIS Tools
Pseudo AVL
Optional full AVL
Customizable Driver Manifests
Reporting:
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Comprehensive Ticket Archive
Comprehensive Report Generator
Export Report Data to MS Excel
New Clients This Month
Consolidate Redundant Addresses
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Fare Reconciliation
Back/Up Restore Utilities
Archiving Feature
Rides Analyzer
3 extra customizable trip lists
Customizable client lists
Support for secondary funders
Affiliations support
Volunteer Details
II. Easy Rides Functional Specifications
A. Passenger Registration.
Figure 1 (page 6) is a terminal display of a typical client list. It has functional buttons
available that allow the user to highlight and select a specified client from the list. By
clicking on the specified client, the user enters the Client Form where he or she can
begin entering and editing client data (as seen in figure 2, page 7). Here you will also
see default data that outlines the client’s trip ticket. This can be expanded or minimized
based on the user’s preference (see figure 3, page 8).
The following information is stored for client using the Client Form (figure 2):
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Client identification number
Client name
Home address
Mailing address (if different than home address)
Sex
Telephone number
Date of birth
Ethnicity
Social Security Number
Language preference
Emergency Contact
Disability code or physical needs (i.e. need for an attendant/aide, seeing eye dog,
etc.)
Type of payment code (paid, prepaid, etc.)
Agency, doctor, or employer with detail specifics (i.e. full name, address, phone
number, etc.)
Required vehicle type code (sedan, van, bus, etc.)
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Service type code (including taxi and individual trip reimbursement)
Additionally, the Client Form has seven fields that are fully customizable via combination
boxes or drop-down tabs. In this image they are listed as “DBase 1” through “DBase 7”.
The example, shown here in expanded view, shows a customizable piece for a billing
component – i.e. Medicaid, but can be also used for ADA eligibility, income, taxonomy
codes, ADA certification, visitor information, passenger trip history, or directions.
Consequently, these customizable tabs can designate the type of ride service the client
uses the most. For example, VINE: Faith in Action (located in Mankato and St. Peter,
MN) uses these customizable tabs as a volunteer delivery service that deploys many
different types of civilian vehicles (i.e. sedans, vans, trucks). Metro Transit, on the other
hand, is one of the country's largest transit systems that deploys buses, trains, carpools,
and vanpools. These tabs can be customized to reflect client transportation history.
This screen also has a frequented address display that allows the dispatcher to select a
destination based on the client’s most frequented routes.
All of the addresses are maintained in the Address Table. This table provides the
necessary information to allow for Auto-Complete, map display, and auto-scheduling
features. Figure 4 (page 8) shows the editor for managing the address table and figure 5
(page 9) shows a snippet of a map accessed via the geocode feature. New addresses
can be added to the Address Table via updating the Client Form or upon creation of a
Trip Ticket. These addresses are automatically geocoded, and if the geocoder cannot
find the address in its database, it will produce a list of similar addresses for the user to
choose from. Additionally, the user can access the map database manually by pointing
and clicking on a larger map to geocode the desired area.
B. Reservations
The Trip Ticket Form shown in figure 5 (page 9) is loaded from the clents default
information. Reservations are made here. They can be done via the frequented address
drop-down tab or as a new address that wll be automatically geocoded at this point. In
the middle of the screen on the right, there is a “Check Feasibility” button. By clicking
on this button, the user can prioritze rides via pick-up, drop-off, or both by checking the
potential routes a trip could be assigned to. This feature allows the dispatcher to check
the feasibility of a trip and receive a list of all feasible buses in the order of priority. To
the left of this button is the “Board Time” that can be modified by the user. Each stop is
called a “leg” and by clicking on the “Next Leg” button, the user can generate a ticket for
the next stop of the trip.
The following features are available through the Trip Ticket Form screen:
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Passenger’s name
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ID number
Disability Code
Vehicle Code (the vehicle code is associated with the route)
Date of trip request (time stamped automatically onto the ticket)
Number of attendants and/or escorts
Scheduled date(s) of service
Pick-up location and zone (coded) that is identified by the site
Destination location with detail specifics (business name, address, and coded
zone)
Requested pick-up/arrival time
Required arrival time to destination
Specifics/comments that can be added via the Trip Notes box
Repeat information for return trips and including “will calls” (if applicable)
Multiple legs for the trip that are generated via the “Next Leg” button
Service type
Agency billing code
Payment type
Frequent destinations (obtained from the Addresses drop-down tabs)
Agent code (automatically stamped using the current user name)
Trip type/purpose (shopping, medical, social, etc.)
Subscriptions are created using the Create Multiple Trips screen (figure 6, page 10).
These can be created as Short Term trips and Long Term trips. Short Term trips are trips
that are repeated for a shorter duration of time (i.e. a week or two, or a month or two).
Long Term trips are trips that are repeated for a longer duration of time (i.e. many
months, years, etc.).
In this screen there are tabs corresponding with the days of the week. By checking a tab
and then clicking “Create Trips, a trip can be scheduled for any day of the week. Special
Trips can be created as date-specific using an archived calendar that can be scrolled
forward (to check for future trips) or backward to check previous trips. Using this
feature, the dispatcher can reference routes from previous days. Easy Rides software
can accept modifications up to and during the scheduled service.
C. Manifests
Fourteen manifest styles are provided for printing routes and driver manifests. These
can be archived using Microsoft Excel and printed/edited as needed.
D. Dispatching
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Easy Rides provides three ways to view a daily transit schedule, and all three can be
viewed at the same time. The daily schedule is also accessible at the same time a Trip
Ticket is being made. Figure 7 (page 11) shows each of these views in the daily schedule
screen. Here modifications to a route (additions, cancellations, and no-shows) can be
changed immediately on a real time basis.
Easy Rides provides three methods for Auto-Scheduling: Feasibility, Auto-Step ™, and
Auto-Batch Scheduling.
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Feasibility checks the possibility of scheduling an individual trip on a given route
in the order of priority. This process generally takes less than two minutes.
Auto-Step ™ scheduling steps the scheduler through each of the unscheduled
trips and provides a list of available routes for each. This process generally takes
less than two minutes.
Auto-Batch Scheduling schedules all unscheduled trips according to the
parameters selected by the scheduler. This process may take longer than two
minutes depending on the number of unscheduled trips.
E. Trip Data Processing/Data Entry
The design of the Easy Rides software allows the user to provide information to
scheduling and dispatching staff, and provide data for management information reports.
F. Management Information/Client Billing
Mobilitat’s software can produce tables based on performance criteria such as pickup
performance, number of riders transported, trips in a given timeline, and generate
reports based on any information stored in its database. Because Easy Rides uses an
open database connected with an MS SQL server, users can develop reports by linking
with Excel and Visual Basic with the database.
Easy Rides stores all the data collected during reservations, scheduling and dispatching
in its database. Through these data the user can generate the summary and statistical
information desired. Mobilitat provides five standard reports as well as a general report
generator and accessibility to the databse. Figure 9 (page 14) provides illustrated
examples of custom customer reports. Since data can be exported into an Excel file,
charts and graphs and tables can be produced in xls files.
For more detail on what an MS SQL driver does, please see MS SQL Chapter VI.
G. Driver Record Keeping
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Easy Rides provides a driver record-keeping feature to record driver training, license
number, years in service, disciplinary record (memo field) and on-time performance.
H. Instillation on a Computer Network
Mobilitat can install Easy Rides software on any networked server. Easy Rides is a
stand-alone application that can interface with a conventional MS SQL server.
According to Cindy Johnson, Oracle databases are used primarily overseas but aren’t
common place in the United States.
I. Computer Hardware
Equipment requirements vary according to the size and activity of the customer. Like
any software, performance will improve with faster processing speeds and increased
RAM (memory). Essentially, the performance of the software is dictated by the ability to
process information and access memory by each individual computer. The computers
used must have the resources to process the visual interface and the server requires
resources to manipulate the data. In addition to the computers used, the performance
of the software is also heavily reliant on the server as well as the speed and stability of
the network connectivity.
The following minimum requirements are needed per workstation:
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Intel Pentium III Processor at 700 MHz and 256 MB RAM (for small systems)
Intel Pentium IV Processor at 1.5 GHz and 512 MB RAM (for larger systems)
MS Windows XP Pro (will run in Windows 2000 Pro)
Microsoft Office
20 GB hard drive
Available USB port
CD ROM drive
Network connectivity
Recommended 19” or lager viewable screen monitor (scheduler and
dispatcher), 17” viewable screen monitor (reservations)
Mouse or other pointing device
The following minimum requirements are needed per server:
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Intel Pentium Processor at 1.7 MHz and 1 GB RAM
Microsoft Windows XP preferred or Windows Professional/Server 2000
Microsoft Office
MDSE or MSSQL server installation compatibility
40 GB hard drive
Available USB port
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CD ROM drive
Network connectivity
Backup media
17” monitor
Shared or network printer
Mouse or other pointing device
J. Training and Documentation:
Based on an RFP submitted to Region 9 in 2005, Mobilitat provides the following
training:
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Driver training
Dispatch staff training
Management training
Technology support staff/system administrator training
The staff provided on-site training for VINE: Faith in Action in Mankato, Minnesota.
Training was conducted over a four-day period and was conducted by Mobilitat staff
and Cindy Johnson, President of Mobilitat. Additional follow-up training was conducted
on two separate occasions, three trips in all, concluding with an advanced follow-up
training after one to two months.
VINE used this software to enhance its volunteer driver program, and according to
transportation manager, Carol Clark, the set-up required a great deal of customization.
The training and implementation was broken down into four distinct tasks:
Task 1: The purpose of this task was for the job site to prepare for the first Mobilitat trip
and facilitate on-site installation. The process involved was as follows:
 VINE sent a copy of their electronic database to Mobilitat and prepared a
detailed list of fully customizable parameters. As a volunteer driver service,
these included: drivers, mileage, and routes. In this phase, Mobilitat also asks
for approximations of the geography of the area.
 Mobilitat then reviewed the information at their headquarters to better prepare
for installantion and implementation.
 VINE was asked to modify the electronic database according to suggestions
made by Mobilitat. The modified database was then sent back to Mobilitat.
Task 2: This occurred during the first trip. The objective was to install, implement and
provide initial training.
 On Day 1: Cindy Johnson met with VINE’s transportation personnel to establish a
final set of local parameters. Emphasis was placed on things such as: funding,
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provider, rates, fare types, driver zones, GIS boundaries, and jurisdictions. Cindy
also acted as a consultant to provide training as the work was performed.
During Day 1, Cindy installed the Easy Rides software on each of the
workstations and installed the GIS software.
During Day 2, VINE and Cindy Johnson worked together to further define the
local parameters and input the parameters into the computer. Again, training
was conducted hands-on as the work was being performed.
During Day 3, Cindy and VINE staff worked to input local addresses to manually
geocode addresses missed by the Automatic Geocoder from day 2. This is also
the phase in which drivers were trained in the use of driver manifests.
Additional Mobilitat staff was on hand to help VINE create a schedule and create
driver manifests for day 4.
During Day 4, VINE was able to begin dispatching drivers using Easy Rides.
Additional staff from Mobilitat headquarters helped provide additional trading in
a web-based encrypted and secure virtual meeting program.
Task 3: This was conducted during the second trip to VINE. The objective of Task 3 was
to resolve any problems that had come up since the last meeting, and provide further
training for scheduling, dispatching, and reporting. This training lasted approximately 1
and ½ days.
Task 4: This was the third and final trip Mobilitat made to VINE’s offices and was done to
resolve any problems that arose since their last visit. Like Task 3, this training lasted
approximately 1 and ½ days and was conducted by Mobilitat staff and Cindy Johnson.
The request was made to provide Mobilitat with a conference room and a white board
and a 6’ table as a minimum for the exclusive use of the Mobilitat training staff while
working on site.
According to the RFP, this procedure was consistent with previous training experiences
with other implementations the size of VINE – a small volunteer transportation provider.
This was done to bring the training and implementation to the site in which it was to be
used and enhance the training by allowing the user to work with the software using
local data. Prior to implementation with VINE, Mobilitat’s previous attempts to train
using sample data rather than real data for integration and implementation were not as
effective.
The initial training was completed within two weeks after the award of the contract. In
the RFP an offer was also made for additional advanced training as needed after the 4Task training was completed. The cost was negotiable and VINE staff never requested
the additional training. Upon completion of training and installation, Mobilitat provided
VINE with copies of user handbooks on CD.
K: Warranty and Quality Assurances:
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Mobilitat warrants that on the acceptance date, the software furnished is free from
significant programming errors and defects in workmanship materials.
Mobilitat warrants that any and all software issues, reported by other clients will be
disclosed in writing before purchase commitment. These include reported issues that
Mobilitat disputes.
Mobilitat warrants that the software will operate and conform to the performance
capabilities, functions, and other descriptions and standards as identified in their
contracts and all supplemental information provided by Mobilitat.
Mobilitat warrants that the software purchased will be delivered on schedule, and that
contract services will be performed in a timely and professional manner, reasonably
close to the schedule provided in the project plan (subject to approved updates).
Mobilitat warrants that qualified, professional personnel will perform all work and
services as described in the contract.
Mobilitat warrants that the services and software will conform to the standards
generally observed in the industry for similar services and software.
Mobilitat warrants that the software, its license to and use by the user, and the
performance by licensor or the services, will comply with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations.
Mobilitat warrants that the licensor will repair or replace, at its own expense, any defect
in the software or the documentation the user identifies at any time during the twelvemonth period immediately following the signature of contracts. Software modifications
implemented by Mobilitat to repair or replace software source code will extend this
warranty so that the user has twelve months from the date of written approval of
installed updates to identify other errors or defects.
Mobilitat will resolve, at its sole expense, the infringement in a manner agreed to by the
user via one of the following methods:
A. Modify the software and/or documentation so that it is noninfringing;
B. Obtain a license for the user to continue using the software and/or
documentation;
C. Substitute the software and/or documentation with other software
and/or documentation reasonably suited to the user; or
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D. Terminate the license for infringing software and/or documentation
and refund the license fees and all other contract costs and fees paid
for the infringing products.
Mobilitat warrants that the software provided is free from intentional viruses or other
intentional programming defects.
Mobilitat warrants that no person, organization, owner or web site, or other resources
will be subject to lawsuit, or request for civil remedies, based on work performed
related to the project and its contracts.
In addition to the warranty outlined above, Mobilitat provides toll-free telephone
support during normal business hours (6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mountain Time), and is capable
of solving any software-related problems. Mobilitat also provides an emergency phone
number for contact outside of normal business hours.
L. Software Upgrades:
Mobilitat offers its customers no-cost upgrades during the duration of their support
agreement with the user. Authorized customers may download upgrades from the
Mobilitat website (www.mobilitatsoftware.com).
M. System Backup:
System backup can be performed via external media using utilities provided by
Mobilitat. To minimize the amount of down time due to a system failure, the following
steps are taken:
Prior to system failure:
 The user will receive an Easy Rides installation disk.
 On a daily basis the user is expected to create backups of their database.
In the event of a system failure:
 The Easy Rides system will be installed either permanently or temporarily on a
different computer in the network. Both the Easy Rides installation disk and the
database backup are required to perform this installation.
 Mobilitat staff will be available to answer questions, walk through installation, or
perform the installation via remote-control software.
The proposed system must have the following components during installation: SQL
Server Database, Easy Rides installation, and GIS information. These components will
be installed in one of the areas listed below:
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In the server (single computer) with an SQL database and Easy Rides
software installed.
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On a workstation (multiple computers) with shortcuts to Easy Rides program
on the server and GIS information.
The process for data migration is as follows:
 The user will submit their data in electronic format to Mobilitat three weeks
prior to the installation.
 The data will then be used to develop a conversion program to move the data
into the Easy Rides database. The three-week period will allow for testing and
data migration.
 The physical conversion will take place when Mobilitat staff arrives at their
headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to perform the installation.
Routematch:
A. The Company
RouteMatch Software is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with seven additional
offices across the United States. It comprises a team of software engineers, Internet
technologists, computer scientists, management information experts, database
management professionals, and transportation consultants. RouteMatch is dedicated to
the success of its clients and has been established around a philosophy of building stateof-the-art technology and professional services, while providing unparalleled customer
support and maintenance.
According to the Rout Match website, www.routematch.com, their technological vision
is to minimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the software solutions used in the
Transportation Sector while increasing the benefits of automation and cost savings
derived from world-class software.
RouteMatch pioneered the use of hosted Applications, commonly called the ASP model,
in its sector and has created business models that dramatically decrease the upfront
costs and risks normally associated with traditional software implementation projects.
As a trusted partner and technology supplier, RouteMatch realizes that in the world of
mission critical ITS technologies, success can be fleeting unless continued support is
provided. It realizes that its success depends upon the success of its customers. For
that reason, its customers are a never-ending focus as they leverage their market
position to provide the very best support and ITS technologies available.
Additionally, RouteMatch has four offices in Minnesota. They have installed software in
245 public, private, and non-profit transit entities in 43 states.
B. The Software
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RouteMatch sells three distinct software products, and the difference is in the level of
automation that you get. Full automation (like Ecolane) costs more, while less
automation costs less. Their three basic software services are:
1. RouteMatch TS
 Fully Automated Scheduling and Routing
2. RouteMatch PM
 Computer Assisted Scheduling and Routing
3. RouteMatch XP
 Manual Scheduling and Automated Data Management
These three provide ability to easily mix and match feature and functionality to deploy
the system that meets operational needs. They are scaleable to easily upgrade to more
advanced functionality. All RouteMatch’s screens provide a “plug in” architecture to add
additional modules as needed.
Image courtesy of: RouteMatch
Above is a screen shot of a typical trip ticket. On the left side of the screen there are 9
distinct applications:
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Reporting
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Customers
Vehicles
Drivers
Trips
Scheduling
Dispatching
Verification
Funding Sources
The trips screen works in real-time to help the dispatcher schedule rides. On the upper
left-hand side of the screen there is a client list. This includes every person in the
database and is fully searchable. To add multiple riders to a trip, simply hold down the
*Shift* key and scroll to the second rider.
On the top of the screen there is the rider’s name, time of scheduled trip, and a
confirmation code. Beneath that box, there are pickups and dropoff boxes that help the
scheduler coordinate ride schedules.
There is also a tab on the right-hand side of the screen that indicates previous trips –
which are archived with the rider after every trip and easily accessed for future rides.
Other boxes with drop down tabs include:
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Funding Source
Fair Type (with a comments box)
Mobility Type
Of particular note is near the bottom of the screen. There is an icon for the number of
attendants with a billing category in the form of a drop-down tab that allows the person
entering the trip to simply scroll and choose from any number of imputed billing
agencies.
Image Courtesy of RouteMatch
This is where you can combine passengers to incorporate multiple riders and add
features such as:
 Isolate from other passengers
 Service animal with customer
 Car Seats
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And directly below that, you can click on an icon and make the trip into a “Standing
Order” that repeats itself on a calendar cycle – i.e. every hour, every day, once per
month, etc.
Features:
1. Customers module:
In the Toolbar there is a list of all customers in a transit operator’s directory. You can
then utilize the SEARCH feature (which is good for the large customer database that the
state of Minnesota will use) to narrow your search.
2. Custom Field Tabs: You can add up to 10 custom field tabs.
3. Audit Log: you can look up changes made by administrator, date, and time. For
example, why was “Elizabeth Miller changed from Ambulatory to wheelchair?”
4. Vehicles Module:
The vehicles screen allows the user to add, edit and delete vehicles and vehicle-related
information such as Vehicle ID, VIN Number, Route Color, and more.
5. Drivers Module (all these modules are on the left with toolbars on the bottom):
The drivers screen allows the user to add, edit and delete drivers and driver-related
information such as phone, address, comments, and Onboard vehicle device.
6. Trips Module:
The trips screen allows the user to insert or schedule a Trip in Standing Order in realtime. There is a tab for funding source here, and it is customizable based on the
transportation operator’s needs (example: ADA).
7. Address Module:
The address screen holds all GeoCoded addresses and makes it easy to search, add and
edit addresses with the click of a button.
8. Reporting:
There are multiple ways to get information:
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Standard Reports (drivers manifest, turn-by-turn directions, productivity reports,
cancels and no-shows, operating statistics, will calls, etc.),
Ad-Hoc Report Wizard,
RouteMatch Custom Reports,
Open Database.
All these reports are bundled with the software package.
Numerous Standard Reports can be run with the click of a button, exported into PDF,
Excel, Word, or a variety of different data processing applications. This adds to the ease
of printing data reports or manifests.
User Defined Reports allows the user to create a report in five steps. All information
within the RouteMatch application can be reported on, and even customized with
custom fields.
Why RouteMatch?
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Online Help: Support and Maintenance
There is a 1-800 number for technical support, 24/7
To achieve efficiency of customer service, there is a remote access to the
agency’s server
Dedicated account managers
Detailed User Manuals
Detailed Online Help Screens
Frequent software updates and upgrades
State and Regional user groups
Annual user conference
Feature requests
Detailed issue reporting
Scheduling:
RouteMatchTS ™ allows you to do batch scheduling. You can take all reservations for
the day, batch them and insert the trips into your scheduling component.
ROUTEMATCH SELF SERVICE PHONE has an IVR = Interactive Voice Response system
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CTS
A. The Company
CTS (Community Transit Systems Software, Inc.) has been in the transportation industry
for 26 years. It was founded in 1982 as a rural community transit organization and has
grown to manage numerous transportation entities across North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Florida. From that growth, a need arose for a software program that
would help organize and facilitate the daily duties of CTS staff. Out of that need, CTS’
Trip Master ™ software was born. President and CEO, Huck Venters, created Trip
Master ™ as a comprehensive Transportation Management System specifically for the
paratransit industry. In 1996, CTS sold the transportation branch of the business and
refined its focus primarily to the software.
CTS’ Trip Master ™ software includes the following features:
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Scheduling
Validation
Reporting
Billing
The expressed benefits of using CTS software are:
 Customized state reporting
 Customer service
 On-site training
 Unlimited free technical support
Adam Fox, Marketing Manager for CTS, has agreed to allow Mn/Dot and DHS, as well as
Region 9 (or anyone associated with this project) a 6-month free trial of CTS software.
He believes the software sells itself and in good faith he will extend the offer to anyone
who may want to use it in the entire state of Minnesota. Additionally, Fox is available
for immediate install.
Additionally, CTS is in the process of finishing up a new version of its Trip Master ™
software that will provide upgraded features with added cost. CTS expects to launch this
software in the summer of 2009. The current package, according to Fox, is still,
“extremely functional” and would cost approximately $3,000 upfront and $500 per
month thereafter. While this report does not focus on cost, Fox claims that this rate is
well below any other paratransit software package available today.
This software will be fully web based with a terminal services application. The current
plan is online but not truly web based, but currently has a browser face.
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B. The Software
Adam Fox concedes that many software packages on the market today can do more
than what CTS Trip Master ™ software can do, but Fox refers to Trip Master ™ as the,
“Burger King” model of paratransit software. CTS software is fully customizable and will
tailor its software features to any transportation provider’s needs. According to Fox, it
will give transit providers exactly what they need and weed out the unwanted features.
In his opinion, there is no need to spend the extra dollars on a package that would work
in a giant metro like Chicago or Seattle in areas of Minnesota that wouldn’t need it.
Among the limitations of CTS’ current Trip Master ™ software is that it does not have a
customizable data entry screen, or photo I.D. tag in its rider information screen.
The features:
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Instant Billing and Customizable Reports
CTS’ Trip Master ™ software has 11 different invoices and can submit claims
electronically. Trip Master ™ can produce up to 20 customizable reports ranging from
On-Time performance to Revenue Data. All reports can be exported to most formats,
including Excel and PDF.
Here is an example of the Revenue Data reporting screen:
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There are drop down tabs for the date of the selected data, as well as the exported
format – in this case, Excel. The data can be date specific or a range (i.e. between
02/01/2008 and 02/01/2009). Revenue reports can be generated for both rider and
provider and include some custom data farming features:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Is the person disabled?
Rider name
Site
Trip number
Vehicle number
Purpose of the ride (for providers)
Account number
Driver
Group specific queries
Another example of a generated report would look like this:
Images courtesy of CTS Software Inc.
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Scheduling:
Trip Master ™ has Computer Assisted Scheduling to ensure that passengers and trips
are a perfect match. Dispatchers can edit, deleted, or move riders from trips as
needed.
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This scheduling screen classifies riders into three distinct categories: scheduled
trips, reserved trips, and new reservations. By simply right clicking or “dragging and
dropping”, passengers can be shuffled around as needed for logistical purposes.
Trips already in transit cannot be altered.
Manifests, dispatch and trip logs can be printed on any one of 12 driver trip sheet
formats. Here is one example of a driver manifest:
Images courtesy of CTS Software, Inc.
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Maintenance:
Maintenance logs are found in the Maintenance Plan screen. Here there are three
distinct boxes: one for scheduled maintenance, one for services, and one for vendor.
Additionally, there is one spot on the bottom right of the screen for a fully
customizable feature.
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This maintenance plan can be exported into datasheets and used for accounting
purposes.
Additionally, the Trip Master ™ Maintenance Module alerts users before the vehicle
needs service and can automatically create repair orders to send with the vehicle
repair shop.
The Master Maintenance Module indicates last date serviced, odometer of last
service date, current odometer, next service odometer and provides the difference
between the two, as well as mileage elapsed since last service.
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Images courtesy of CTS Software, Inc.
Above is an image of a typical Repair Order.
C. Database
CTS uses a Sequel background with a sequel database. Like Cindy Johnson of Mobilitat,
Jagat Shah of Shah Software, and Ryan Larsen of Ecolane, Fox believes that there are
few, if any, paratransit agencies that use an Oracle 10g or 11g database.
Trapeze
A. The Company
Trapeze Software Group was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Mississauga,
Ontario with branch offices in Scottsdale, AZ; Cleveland, Ohio; Virginia Beach, VA;
Denmark, Manchester; United Kingdom; Germany; and the Netherlands. With 200
employees, three partners (including Mentor Engineering, Ontira Communications, and
Greyhawk Technologies Inc.), and a board of six executives, Trapeze is one of the largest
paratransit software agencies in the world. Trapeze provides paratransit software to
hundreds of government and commercial organizations across Europe, North America
and Asia Pacific.
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B. The Software:
Trapeze provides automated scheduling and
dispatch software for a variety of transportation
agencies. The various software programs available
depend, largely, on the client’s needs. Trapeze
offers software custom fit the following
subcategories (broadly defined by Trapeze): Public
Transit (both large and medium size industries),
Intelligent Transit Solutions, Regional
Transportation, Ridesharing & Alternative
Commuting, Medical Transportation, Management
Companies, School Transportation, and
Community Transportation.
1. Public Transit
Trapeze divides its public transit software packages
into large and medium (which Trapeze also refers
to as “smaller”) transit “solutions”.
Large Transit Solutions:
Specifically geared towards large transit operations
with more than 100 vehicles and thousands of
employees. The key concept behind Trapeze’s
Large Public Transit package is to continue
operating at maximum efficiency while managing
the day-to-day operations of multiple divisions on
multiple fronts while staying on top of
opportunities to expand and grow rider services.
Fully customizable, Trapeze’s Public Transit software for large transit operations
automate most of the day-to-day operations associated with planning, managing,
delivering, and measuring transit services, as well as connecting data between internal
and external systems. We provide comprehensive, customized technology solutions and
professional services that enable you to improve services, control costs and optimize the
productivity of your resources.
Their Public Transit Solutions package for large transit operations includes the following
key components:
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Asset Management. Allows large transit operations to effectively manage their fleet
equipment, parts inventory, and maintenance activities. Trapeze software allows the
operator to implement preventative maintenance schedules. Here the software allows
the organization a unique feature, the ability to “make repair vs. disposal decisions” that
are based on actual cost – factoring in costs of replacing the damaged part from
acquiring the part until the time it is physically on the vehicle and the vehicle is back in
commission. This eliminates the need to base the decisions on purchase price alone.
Consequently, Trapeze offers fuel management systems that support continuous, realtime fuel management over most communication platforms, enabling organizations to
improve accountability for metered or pulsed fuel and energy lines (including gasoline,
diesel, propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), glycol and lubricants). This can reduce
fuel costs as much as 15%, and decrease the number of money funneled into
unnecessary replacement parts by as much as 10-20%.
Planning & Analysis. Through the implementation of “Intelligent Transit Systems”
(explained later in sub-category number 2 of the Trapeze chapter in this report), vast
quantities of data can be produced that are invaluable for planning purposes. External
data including maps (Trapeze is contracted with MapNet for all its mapping resources),
Census data, schoold enrollment ADA compliancy, are all included to help
transportation and planning managers plan their course of action. This is where the
question of relevancy comes into play, what data do organizations need?
The various Trapeze reports that can be generated are designed specifically to cut costs,
improve service and automate the creation of reports and funding applications through
integration of GIS-based tools and scheduling applications. Trapeze further catalogues
the data needs into Fixed Route Planning Solutions, and Demand Response Planning
Solutions.
Trapeze Fixed route planning solutions help agencies understand their routes, ridership
and service areas, and plan for changing demand. Features include:
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Ridership analysis. Analyze ridership data, identify key patterns and develop
reports
Schedule adherence. Maintain optimum service levels using GPS data
Reporting. Automatically generate NTD Form 406 random samples reports, ad
hoc and standard management reports
Demographic analysis. Use spatial tools to obtain a better understanding of
current and future riders.
Location analysis: spatially analyze transit and location data for better service
planning
Demand forecasting: Analyze the effect of service changes and other factors on
the propensity of specific groups to travel.
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Trapeze Demand Response planning solutions enables agencies to find operational
efficiencies that will ultimately lead to huge cost savings over time. These features
include:
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Travel training. Find the best candidates for fixed route travel training
comparing historical trip information to fixed route data.
Flexible routing. Use historical paratransit data to help design efficient flexible
routes.
Schedule & vehicle optimization. Reschedule trips based ‘what if’ scenarios.
Routing & Scheduling. Manage the complexities of a large operation with fully
automated routing (like Ecolane), timetabling, blocking, runcutting and rostering
modules.
Operations Management. Lower costs through better resource management
and allocation, improve the productivity of bidding, dispatch and timekeeping
teams and provide driver training to decrease operational costs while improving
the passenger experience. This includes sign ups, daily dispatch, timesheet
processing, workforce management, vehicle and yard management, and driver
training. The idea here is that Trapeze Operations Management screens will help
to lower costs and increase overall productivity through better resource and
time management.
Customer Information. Delivers a range of information and interactive
communication services to passengers using call centers, web sites, automated
phone systems , in-vehicle and wayside systems.
Customer Information refers to how the software connects riders from point A to point
B while minimizing transfers. This aspect of the software also focuses on the closes
accessible stop, and when the next vehicle is leaving the station.
Trapeze uses the following media:
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Call centers
Websites
Automated phone (IVR) systems
Wireless devices
All of these features can be bundled to integrate with their Intelligent Transit System
(ITS), seen in the next chapter in this report. These include real-time vehicle location
systems, connectivity to wayside kiosks, and on-board display systems.
Consequently, Trapeze customer services are lined with The Google Transit Trip
Planner. Google Transit Trip Planner is an online service that allows the public to
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customize their transit trips online. For customers with Trapeze FX™ and one of
Trapeze’s Traveler Information products that are current or up-to-date with their annual
maintenance program, a Google export tool is available for no additional license fee.
The Trapeze export tool for the Google Transit Trip Planner enables transit agencies to
export their schedule data to the service and is compatible with Trapeze Version 461 or
higher. The export tool for Google Transit Trip Planner requires Trapeze FX and one of
Trapeze’s Traveler Information Solutions:
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Integration with real-time information
Multi-modal trip planning including demand response transfers to fixed route
Personalized subscription services providing travellers with transit information
when and where they want it
Data capture for improved operational performance
Ability to fine tune trip planning results based on ‘real world’ requirements
Integrated voice response (IVR) functionality
Online trip planning capabilities
Transit Intelligence. Trapeze Transit Intelligence solutions assist all levels of
transit management in making informed and timely business decisions by putting
key performance indicators for each functional area of the transit business at
their finger tips (for more information on the technological “Intelligence
Solutions”, please see the next section of this report labeled “2. Intelligent
Transit Solutions”.)
Mobile Computing and GPS utilizes real-time GPS/AVL and schedule adherence
data, enabling quick information access for critical decision-making, safety of
drivers and passengers, and on-time performance. Additionally, Trapeze can
integrate mobile computing and GPS technologies to optimize dispatch
capabilities.
Small/Medium Transit Solutions:
Trapeze has a smaller package designed specifically for transit operations with fewer
than 100 vehicles and less funding for IT services. Small/Medium Transit Solutions offer
fewer features, but at much less cost.
Many of the features available for Larger Transit Solutions, are available in the smaller
package as well. Features such as:
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Planning
Scheduling
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Dispatch
Resource Allocation
Customer Information
Essentially, this feature will scale itself and tailor its features to fit with smaller transit
operations.
2. Intelligent Transit Solutions
The features of the software varies between these applications, but a general idea of
the hardware available for Trapeze equipped vehicles (both fixed route and demand
response) looks like this:
Image Courtesy of: www.trapezegroup.com
Trapeze refers to its software as an innovation in Intelligent Transit Systems. Essentially,
this refers to what the software can do in:
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Back Office Foundation
Vehicle Systems
Dispatch Systems
Rider Services
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Mobile Internet Café ™
Demand Response Systems
Back Office Foundation refers to the software’s ability to deliver the tools and real-time
data that transit staff and managers need to plan, manage and deliver better services.
Specifically, these are the types of reports that can be generated using Trapeze
software:
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Route planning
Bus Stop management
Scheduling, Runcutting and Rostering
Timekeeping and payroll
Workforce management
Schedule aherance
Ridership analysis
Demand forecasting
Standard and ad hoc reporting
Vehicle Systems: Trapeze has the following systems that can be fully integrated into
transit vehicles:
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Automatic voice communications control
Instant text messages to and from the vehicle
Driver command consoles
Electronic faring systems
Automatic passenger counting (CountRiteTM )
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operations signal priority expediting
Vehicle health monitoring
Video surveillance
Automatic announcements and rider services
Trapeze Dispatch Systems help dispatchers and operations centers manage services,
communicate with customers and managers and capture data. The software allows
transit operators an opportunity to monitor and manage a variety of elements in
real time, including:
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Point-and-click route deviation
Real-time computer assisted dispatch
Real-time automatic vehicle location
Vehicle optimization
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Resource allocation
Real-time executive information
Customer service
Mechanical data
Trapeze Rider Services offer a range of technology solutions. Delivering real-time
information to transit riders, transit agencies and operators can offer real-time stop
requests and communicate agency news, safety messages and points of interest along
the route. Additionally, Trapeze allows transit agencies the ability to stream locationbased advertising and entertainment directly into their vehicles. Some of the benefits,
as outlined on the Trapeze website (www.trapezegroup.com) of Trapeze’s Rider
Services, include:
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Simple aural and visual annunciation preparation using PC-based tools
(NextStopManager™)
Clear, precise aural and visual announcements (NextStopTM )
Automatic location- or event-based announcements
Video alternative for richer, multimedia rider experience
Multilingual capability (audio and text)
Manual and automatic triggering of canned messages
Full-motion video and passenger entertainment
Live video streaming through a broadband channel
Plug-and-play wireless integration
Vehicles equipped with Trapeze software are connected to wireless Internet (high speed
mobile broadband networks). Trapeze can set up a mobile broadband network along
any transit route or high-density transit corridor that enables data communication at
speeds up to 100 times faster than conventional wide-area systems. This is what
Trapeze refers to as its Mobile Internet Café ™, with the following benefits:
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Enriches rider experience on high-density transit corridors
Attract and retain passengers with convenient, value added services
Entice more business commuters by providing seamless connectivity to home
and the office
Surf the Web and check e-mail using laptops, PDAs, mobile phones and other
devices
Control bandwith with appropriate tools
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Demand Response Systems
Trapeze provides a variety of software applications, mobile hardware products, and
integration services to support real-time vehicle location and passenger information
data. Trapeze has equipped transit fleets as small as 4 vehicles to as large as 300
vehicles, for demand response, flexible routes, and multi-modal operations.
Image Courtesy of trapezegroup.com
Demand Response mobile technology includes integration of:
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Mobile computing for Trapeze and NOVUS dispatching solutions
Mobile hardware components, including mobile computers and GPS
Alternative affordable hardware solutions such as handheld devices
Integration of additional ITS components such as on-board cameras
Additionally, Trapeze’s mobile computing and GPS solutions allow for up-to-the minute
location of drivers and passenger trips, increased safety, dispatch management, and ontime performance.
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Dispatchers can view real-time location of vehicles on a map
Drivers can receive and view an electronic manifest, with real-time changes
Text communications between dispatch and drivers
Automatic entry of trip performance data into the dispatch system
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3. Regional Transportation
The Regional Transportation branch at Trapeze focuses on managing transportation
operations across a wide region. Software available for these organization require data
management from numerous and wide ranging systems. Trapeze can tailor software to
integrate data from those disparate systems for purposes of planning.
Of particular interest to this scope of work, Trapeze’s Regional Transportation
Department works with regional authorities and other agencies. Using MS SQL drivers,
they are able to accumulate large quantities of data – essential for regional planning
over a large area.
4. Medical Transportation
Trapeze develops automated systems that manage the provision of medical
transportation, including:
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Reservations
Scheduling
Real-time dispatching
Fully customizable, their medical transportation software is browser-based (like
Ecolane) with GIS mapping services and automated reporting, invoicing and
claims reimbursement applications available.
5. Ridesharing and Alternative Commuting
Trapeze has a ride share divisions that customizes software to find solutions that match
commuters with many kinds of shared transportation, including carpools, vanpools,
public transit, park-and-ride, and cycling routes, as well as daycare and telecommuting
centers.
Their commuter software, Trapeze RidePro3 connects thousands of commuters with
ride sharing opportunities.
These solution components are directly from the Trapeze website and are specifically
geared towards carpoolers:
Solution Components
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Fast, Automated Matching. Use GIS-based techniques to perform
specific matches by time of day, obstacle recognition, employer
restriction, same sex matching, route-to-work corridor matching, time
flexibility and more. Results in seconds with even the largest databases.
Convenient Web Interface. Allow commuters to register online and
perform self-service ride matching. Employers can manage registrants
over the web. Single database design eliminates need to transfer or
replicate data.
High Capacity. Performs effectively even on databases with as many as
400,000 commuters.
Integrated Vanpool Matching and Rostering. Define the entire vanpool
service area, route and stops graphically on a map. Track drivers and
riders and perform cluster analyses quickly and easily.
Advanced Reporting. Reduce time and effort spent tracking matching
activities and marketing efforts using numerous predefined reports plus a
built in report generator.
Integrated Mapping. Easily maintain mapping data through high
performance graphical map displays. Geocode locations by address, cross
street, postal code or by clicking on map image.
Efficent Communication Tools. Keep users up to date in print or email
with easy to use email merge features. Automatically contact commuters
for online renewal of registration.
Guaranteed Ride Home Tracking. Manage GRH trips, track funding
sources and monitor the cost of each voucher.
Coordinate with Neighboring Rideshare Service Providers. Support
multiple agencies using a single database while keeping data separated
for reporting purposes.
While this has little to do with regional collaboration of transit operations, it does reflect
Trapeze’s ability to integrate multiple data streams to coordinate many different
vehicles and riders on a large scale.
6. Management Companies
The Management Companies branch of Trapeze helps transit organizations satisfy
business objectives of the management team, key stakeholders, and shareholders. This
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team offers solutions that can help achieve those objectives. The idea is that these
solutions will offer:
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Greater efficiency,
Productive deployment
Accurate measurement
Reduce cost
Offer better value for local and state-wide services
These solutions include:

Routing, scheduling and Location Management. Planning and optimization
operations for different transportation modes.

Operator and Vehicle Scheduling.

Operations Management.

Customer Information allows transit operators a chance to deliver a range of
information and interactive communication services to passengers using call
centers, web sites, automated phone systems, in-vehicle and wayside systems.

Monitoring and Analysis: software and tools for spatial and statistical analysis.

Intelligent Transit Systems: (see
subcategory 2).
7. School Transportation
Trapeze’s School Transportation division is geared towards school transportation
services with challenges and safety concerns and increasing enrollment. Trapeze
systems integrate features that enable school transportation providers to track real-
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time vehicle locations, keep parents and staff informed, manage school bus fleets and
report on key indicators. Again, fully customizable and capable of the following features:

Automated Routing and Scheduling offers lower costs and safety in
transportation. Additional benefits include accurate information, automated
routing, scheduling and dispatch functions. Integrated, editable maps, drag-and
drop stop, address geocoding, and block and stop features are also available
through Trapeze’s School Transportation software.

Automatic Vehicle Locations (AVLs) are real-time vehicle tracking tools including
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

Fleet Management is designed to promote more efficient vehicle operation
while managing inventories, work and purchase orders, maintenance schedules,
fuel consumption and reporting requirements.

Redistricting provides forecasts and transportation with tools that enable
transportation organizations to work with historical, current and projected data
and build different boundary scenarios.

School Trip Management offers tools that streamline school trip management,
estimates, billing, dispatch and reporting.

Special Education Transport features are found in Trapeze’s VEO software for
special education transport. It is the only software product on the market
designed to meet the needs of special education school districts and transport
providers.

Transportation Information via Web and IVR makes information available to
parents, staff, drivers, schools, depots and the public through a Web site or an
automated telephone (IVR) service.
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June, 2009
Transportation for Higher Education (Colleges and Universities) software is also
available.
8. Community Transportation
Trapeze serves smaller community transportation entities with its new Novus ™
software that it claims is affordable, easy to install, and browser based. The software
helps community transportation providers an opportunity t o cut costs while continuing
to provide secure, reliable and convenient services with the following features:
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
Automated scheduling and dispatch delivers improvements in operational
efficiency and productivity for demand response, fixed or flexible route and
other types of service.
Advanced reporting capabilities reduces the time and effort required to produce
standard, ad hoc and custom reports.
Affordable mobile computing/ITS improves service quality and efficiency with
end-to-end intelligent transit systems scaled for small operations.
ASP hosted and rental solutions reduces operating costs, IT support
requirements and other headaches by letting us host and maintain your system.
Comprehensive, 24/7 customer service provides community transportation
providers with rapid response to technical issues with online and live-operator
call center support.
Mobile Computing and GPS offers real-time GPS/AVL and schedule adherence
data.
C. Database
Like most other paratransit providers, Trapeze uses an MS SQL database (see MS SQL
chapter in this report), but can be fully integrated using Oracle drivers as well.
Shah Software
Jagat Shah, owner and CEO of Shah Software, has used his regional coordinated plan in
West Texas. This can be a prototype for the 87-county Minnesota coordinated plan. He
believes that coordination between ALL transit systems in the state of Minnesota could
be a logistical nightmare. He also believes that it is “do-able” but says that
transportation providers should be broken down into “Primary Providers” and/or
perhaps by region.
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He also said that Shah Software uses Navteq mapping, which is bundled with the
software package. This can be fully integrated.
His software uses a “cascading logic” to prioritize the reservations that he says are, “all
placed into a big basket.” The first priority is to get the rider to his or her destination on
time. The second primary focus is on location. The 3rd priority is on the agency itself.
Essentially the goal is to minimize the number of miles your vehicle drives.
Jagat also says that his software does not currently have a web-based interface
component to it, but he can make one.
V. Crystal Reports
Part V. Crystal Reports, and Part VI. SQL is research directly from www.wikipedia.org.
Their write ups on these pieces are top notch, and, in my opinion, the most
comprehensive explanation of Crystal Reports and MSQ on the web!
Crystal Reports is a software application used to design and generate reports from a
variety of data sources. Several other applications, such as Microsoft Visual Studio,
bundle an OEM version of Crystal Reports as a general purpose reporting tool. Crystal
Reports became the de facto report writer when Microsoft released it with Visual Basic.
Origins
The product was originally created by Crystal Services Inc., which produced versions 1.0
through 3.0. The company was subsequently acquired by Seagate Software, which later
renamed itself Crystal Decisions, and produced versions 4.0 through 9.0. Crystal
Decisions was acquired in December 2003 by Business Objects, which has so far
produced versions 10, 11 (XI) and the current version 12 (2008). Business Objects was
acquired by SAP on October 08, 2007.
Features
Report designer
Users install Crystal Reports on a computer and use it to select specific rows and
columns from a table of compatible data (see "Supported data sources" below). Users
can then arrange the data on the report in the format needed. Once the report layout is
complete it is saved as a file with the extension RPT. A report can be rerun anytime by
reopening the RPT file and 'refreshing' the data. If the source data has been updated
then the refreshed report will reflect those updates. The report can then be previewed
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on the screen, printed onto paper or exported to one of several different file formats
such as PDF, Excel, text, CSV or other.
Report formats can vary from a simple column of values to layouts featuring pie charts,
bar charts, cross-tab summary tables and nested subreports. Crystal Reports is designed
for "presentation quality" reports so there are many options for enhanced formatting.
Supported data sources
Accessible data sources include the following:
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Databases such as Sybase, IBM DB2, Ingres, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL
Server, MySQL, Interbase and Oracle
Btrieve
Spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel
Text files
XML files
Groupware applications such as Lotus Notes, Microsoft Exchange and Novell
GroupWise
Any other data source accessible through a web service, ODBC, JDBC or OLAP.
Development
Crystal Reports comes integrated with Visual Studio. Crystal Reports allows Java
developers to build applications with Crystal Reports components.
VI. MS SQL
Part V. Crystal Reports, and Part VI. SQL is research directly from www.wikipedia.org.
Their write ups on these pieces are top notch, and, in my opinion, the most
comprehensive explanation of Crystal Reports and MSQ on the web!
Used by Ecolane, Mobilitat, and RouteMatch MS SQL drivers allow for easy generation
of large amounts of data into Excel, Microsoft Word, and Crystal reports.
Genesis
SQL Server Release History
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Version Year Release Name
1.0
(OS/2)
1989 SQL Server 1.0
Codename
-
4.21
1993 SQL Server 4.21 (WinNT)
6.0
1995 SQL Server 6.0
SQL95
6.5
1996 SQL Server 6.5
Hydra
7.0
1998 SQL Server 7.0
Sphinx
-
1999
8.0
2000 SQL Server 2000 Shiloh
8.0
2003
9.0
2005 SQL Server 2005 Yukon
10.0
2008 SQL Server 2008 Katmai
SQL Server 7.0
OLAP Tools
Plato
SQL Server 2000
Liberty
64-bit Edition
The code base for MS SQL Server (prior to version 7.0) originated in Sybase SQL Server,
and was Microsoft's entry to the enterprise-level database market, competing against
Oracle, IBM, and, later, Sybase itself. Microsoft, Sybase and Ashton-Tate originally
teamed up to create and market the first version named SQL Server 1.0 for OS/2 (about
1989) which was essentially the same as Sybase SQL Server 3.0 on Unix, VMS, etc.
Microsoft SQL Server 4.2 was shipped around 1992 (available bundled with Microsoft
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OS/2 version 1.3). Later Microsoft SQL Server 4.21 for Windows NT was released at the
same time as Windows NT 3.1. Microsoft SQL Server v6.0 was the first version designed
for NT, and did not include any direction from Sybase.
About the time Windows NT was released, Sybase and Microsoft parted ways and each
pursued their own design and marketing schemes. Microsoft negotiated exclusive rights
to all versions of SQL Server written for Microsoft operating systems. Later, Sybase
changed the name of its product to Adaptive Server Enterprise to avoid confusion with
Microsoft SQL Server. Until 1994, Microsoft's SQL Server carried three Sybase copyright
notices as an indication of its origin.
Since parting ways, several revisions have been done independently. SQL Server 7.0 was
the first true GUI based database server and was a rewrite from the legacy Sybase code.
It was succeeded by SQL Server 2000, which was the first edition to be launched in a
variant for the IA-64 architecture.
In the eight years since release of Microsoft's previous SQL Server product (SQL Server
2000), advancements have been made in performance, the client IDE tools, and several
complementary systems that are packaged with SQL Server 2005. These include: an ETL
tool (SQL Server Integration Services or SSIS), a Reporting Server, an OLAP and data
mining server (Analysis Services), and several messaging technologies, specifically
Service Broker and Notification Services.
SQL Server 2005
SQL Server 2005, released in October 2005, is the successor to SQL Server 2000. It
included native support for managing XML data, in addition to relational data. For this
purpose, it defined an xml data type that could be used either as a data type in database
columns or as literals in queries. XML columns can be associated with XSD schemas;
XML data being stored is verified against the schema. XML is converted to an internal
binary data type before being stored in the database. Specialized indexing methods
were made available for XML data. XML data is queried using XQuery; SQL Server 2005
added some extensions to the T-SQL language to allow embedding XQuery queries in TSQL. In addition, it also defines a new extension to XQuery, called XML DML, that allows
query-based modifications to XML data. SQL Server 2005 also allows a database server
to be exposed over web services using TDS packets encapsulated within SOAP (protocol)
requests. When the data is accessed over web services, results are returned as XML.
For relational data, T-SQL has been augmented with error handling features and support
for recursive queries. SQL Server 2005 has also been enhanced with new indexing
algorithms and better error recovery systems. Data pages are checksummed for better
error resiliency, and optimistic concurrency support has been added for better
performance. Permissions and access control have been made more granular and the
query processor handles concurrent execution of queries in a more efficient way.
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Partitions on tables and indexes are supported natively, so scaling out a database onto a
cluster is easier. SQL CLR was introduced with SQL Server 2005 to let it integrate with
the .NET Framework.
SQL Server 2008
The current version of SQL Server, SQL Server 2008, (code-named "Katmai",) was
released (RTM) on August 6, 2008 and aims to make data management self-tuning, self
organizing, and self maintaining with the development of SQL Server Always On
technologies, to provide near-zero downtime. SQL Server 2008 will also include support
for structured and semi-structured data, including digital media formats for pictures,
audio, video and other multimedia data. In current versions, such multimedia data can
be stored as BLOBs (binary large objects), but they are generic bitstreams. Intrinsic
awareness of multimedia data will allow specialized functions to be performed on them.
According to Paul Flessner, senior Vice President, Server Applications, Microsoft Corp.,
SQL Server 2008 can be a data storage backend for different varieties of data: XML,
email, time/calendar, file, document, spatial, etc as well as perform search, query,
analysis, sharing, and synchronization across all data types.[
Other new data types include specialized date and time types and a Spatial data type for
location-dependent data. Better support for unstructured and semi-structured data is
provided using the new FILESTREAMdata type, which can be used to reference any file
stored on the file system. Structured data and metadata about the file is stored in SQL
Server database, whereas the unstructured component is stored in the file system. Such
files can be accessed both via Win32 file handling APIs as well as via SQL Server using TSQL; doing the latter accesses the file data as a BLOB. Backing up and restoring the
database backs up or restores the referenced files as well. SQL Server 2008 also natively
supports hierarchical data, and includes T-SQL constructs to directly deal with them,
without using recursive queries.
The Full-Text Search functionality has been integrated with the database engine, which
simplifies management and improves performance.
Spatial data will be stored in two types. A "Flat Earth" (GEOMETRY or planar) data type
represents geospatial data which has been projected from its native, spherical,
coordinate system into a plane. A "Round Earth" data type (GEOGRAPHY) uses an
ellipsoidal model in which the Earth is defined as a single continuous entity which does
not suffer from the singularities such as the international dateline, poles, or map
projection zone "edges". Approximately 70 methods are available to represent spatial
operations for the Open Geospatial Consortium Simple Features for SQL, Version 1.1.
SQL Server includes better compression features, which also helps in improving
scalability. It also includes Resource Governor that allows reserving resources for certain
users or workflows. It also includes capabilities for transparent encryption of data as
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well as compression of backups. SQL Server 2008 supports the ADO.NET Entity
Framework and the reporting tools, replication, and data definition will be built around
the Entity Data Model. SQL Server Reporting Services will gain charting capabilities from
the integration of the data visualization products from Dundas Data Visualization Inc.,
which was acquired by Microsoft. On the management side, SQL Server 2008 includes
the Declarative Management Framework which allows configuring policies and
constraints, on the entire database or certain tables, declaratively. The version of SQL
Server Management Studio included with SQL Server 2008 supports IntelliSense for SQL
queries against a SQL Server 2008 Database Engine. SQL Server 2008 also makes the
databases available via Windows PowerShell providers and management functionality
available as Cmdlets, so that the server and all the running instances can be managed
from Windows PowerShell.
Editions
Microsoft makes SQL Server available in multiple versions, with different feature sets
and targeting different users. These versions are:
SQL Server Compact Edition (SQL CE)
The compact edition is an embedded database engine. Due to its small size (2MB
DLL footprint), it has a slightly reduced feature set compared to the other
editions. It is limited to 4GB maximum database size and cannot be run as a
Windows service, Compact Edition must be hosted by the application using it.
SQL Server Express Edition
SQL Server Express Edition is a scaled down, free edition of SQL Server, which
includes the core database engine. While there are no limitations on the number
of databases or users supported, it is limited to using one processor, 1 GB
memory and 4 GB database files. The entire database is stored in a single .mdf
file, and thus making it suitable for XCOPY deployment. It is intended as a
replacement for MSDE. Two additional versions provide a superset of features
not in the original Express Edition. The first is SQL Server Express with Tools,
which includes SQL Server Management Studio Basic. SQL Server Express with
Advanced Services adds full-text search capability and reporting services.
SQL Server 2005 Embedded Edition (SSEE)
SQL Server 2005 Embedded Edition is a specially configured named instance of
the SQL Server Express database engine which can be accessed only by certain
Windows Services.
SQL Server Workgroup Edition
SQL Server Workgroup Edition includes the core database functionality but does
not include the additional services.
SQL Server Standard Edition
SQL Server Standard edition includes the core database engine, along with the
stand-alone services. It differs from Enterprise edition in that it supports fewer
active instances (number of nodes in a cluster) and does not include some high-
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availability functions such as hot-add memory (allowing memory to be added
while the server is still running), and parallel indexes.
SQL Server Enterprise Edition
SQL Server Enterprise Edition is the full-featured version of SQL Server, including
both the core database engine and add-on services, while including a range of
tools for creating and managing a SQL Server cluster.
SQL Server Developer Edition
SQL Server Developer Edition includes the same features as SQL Server
Enterprise Edition, but is limited by the license to be only used as a development
and test system, and not as production server. This version is available to
download by students free of charge as a part of Microsoft's DreamSpark
program.
SQL Server Web Edition
SQL Server Web Edition is a low-TCO option for Web hosting.
Architecture
Protocol layer
Protocol layer implements the external interface to SQL Server. All operations that can
be invoked on SQL Server are communicated to it via a Microsoft-defined format, called
Tabular Data Stream (TDS). TDS is an application layer protocol, used to transfer data
between a database server and a client. Initially designed and developed by Sybase Inc.
for their Sybase SQL Server relational database engine in 1984, and later by Microsoft in
Microsoft SQL Server, TDS packets can be encased in other physical transport
dependent protocols, including TCP/IP, Named pipes, and Shared memory.
Consequently, access to SQL Server is available over these protocols. In addition, the
SQL Server API is also exposed over bando web services.
Data storage
The main unit of data storage is a database, which is a collection of tables with typed
columns. SQL Server supports different data types, including primary types such as
Integer, Float, Decimal, Char (including character strings), Varchar (variable length
character strings), binary (for unstructured blobs of data), Text (for textual data) among
others. It also allows user-defined composite types (UDTs) to be defined and used. SQL
Server also makes server statistics available as virtual tables and views (called Dynamic
Management Views or DMVs). A database can also contain other objects including
views, stored procedures, indexes and constraints, in addition to tables, along with a
transaction log. A SQL Server database can contain a maximum of 231 objects, and can
span multiple OS-level files with a maximum file size of 220 TB. The data in the database
are stored in primary data files with an extension .mdf. Secondary data files, identified
with an .ndf extension, are used to store optional metadata. Log files are identified with
the .ldf extension.
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Storage space allocated to a database is divided into sequentially numbered pages, each
8 KB in size. A page is the basic unit of I/O for SQL Server operations. A page is marked
with a 96-byte header which stores metadata about the page including the page
number, page type, free space on the page and the ID of the object that owns it. Page
type defines the data contained in the page - data stored in the database, index,
allocation map which holds information about how pages are allocated to tables and
indexes, change map which holds information about the changes made to other pages
since last backup or logging, or contain large data types such as image or text. While
page is the basic unit of an I/O operation, space is actually managed in terms of an
extent which consists of 8 pages. A database object can either span all 8 pages in an
extent ("uniform extent") or share an extent with up to 7 more objects ("mixed extent").
A row in a database table cannot span more than one page, so is limited to 8 KB in size.
However, if the data exceeds 8 KB and the row contains Varchar or Varbinary data, the
data in those columns are moved to a new page (or possible a sequence of pages, called
Allocation unit) and replaced with a pointer to the data.
For physical storage of a table, its rows are divided into a series of partitions (numbered
1 to n). The partition size is user defined; by default all rows are in a single partition. A
table is split into multiple partitions in order to spread a database over a cluster. Rows in
each partition are stored in either B-tree or heap structure. If the table has an
associated index to allow fast retrieval of rows, the rows are stored in-order according
to their index values, with a B-tree providing the index. The data is in the leaf node of
the leaves, and other nodes storing the index values for the leaf data reachable from the
respective nodes. If the index is non-clustered, the rows are not sorted according to the
index keys. An indexed view has the same storage structure as an indexed table. A table
without an index is stored in an unordered heap structure. Both heaps and B-trees can
span multiple allocation units.
Buffer management
SQL Server buffers pages in RAM to minimize disc I/O. Any 8 KB page can be buffered inmemory, and the set of all pages currently buffered is called the buffer cache. The
amount of memory available to SQL Server decides how many pages will be cached in
memory. The buffer cache is managed by the Buffer Manager. Either reading from or
writing to any page copies it to the buffer cache. Subsequent reads or writes are
redirected to the in-memory copy, rather than the on-disc version. The page is updated
on the disc by the Buffer Manager only if the in-memory cache has not been referenced
for some time. While writing pages back to disc, asynchronous I/O is used whereby the
I/O operation is done in a background thread so that other operations do not have to
wait for the I/O operation to complete. Each page is written along with its checksum
when it is written. When reading the page back, its checksum is computed again and
matched with the stored version to ensure the page has not been damaged or tampered
with in the mean time.
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Logging and Transaction
SQL Server ensures that any change to the data is ACID-compliant, i.e., it uses
transactions to ensure that any operation either totally completes or is undone if fails,
but never leaves the database in an intermediate state. Using transactions, a sequence
of actions can be grouped together, with the guarantee that either all actions will
succeed or none will. SQL Server implements transactions using a write-ahead log. Any
changes made to any page will update the in-memory cache of the page, simultaneously
all the operations performed will be written to a log, along with the transaction ID which
the operation was a part of. Each log entry is identified by an increasing Log Sequence
Number (LSN) which ensure that no event overwrites another. SQL Server ensures that
the log will be written onto the disc before the actual page is written back. This enables
SQL Server to ensure integrity of the data, even if the system fails. If both the log and
the page were written before the failure, the entire data is on persistent storage and
integrity is ensured. If only the log was written (the page was either not written or not
written completely), then the actions can be read from the log and repeated to restore
integrity. If the log wasn't written, then also the integrity is maintained, even though the
database is in a state when the transaction as if never occurred. If it was only partially
written, then the actions associated with the unfinished transaction are discarded. Since
the log was only partially written, the page is guaranteed to have not been written,
again ensuring data integrity. Removing the unfinished log entries effectively undoes the
transaction. SQL Server ensures consistency between the log and the data every time an
instance is restarted.
Concurrency and locking
SQL Server allows multiple clients to use the same database concurrently. As such, it
needs to control concurrent access to shared data, to ensure data integrity - when
multiple clients update the same data, or clients attempt to read data that is in the
process of being changed by another client. SQL Server provides two modes of
concurrency control: pessimistic concurrency and optimistic concurrency. When
pessimistic concurrency control is being used, SQL Server controls concurrent access by
using locks. Locks can be either shared or exclusive. Exclusive lock grants the user
exclusive access to the data - no other user can access the data as long as the lock is
held. Shared locks are used when some data is being read - multiple users can read from
data locked with a shared lock, but not acquire an exclusive lock. The latter would have
to wait for all shared locks to be released. Locks can be applied on different levels of
granularity - on entire tables, pages, or even on a per-row basis on tables. For indexes, it
can either be on the entire index or on index leaves. The level of granularity to be used
is defined on a per-database basis by the database administrator. While a fine grained
locking system allows more users to use the table or index simultaneously, it requires
more resources. So it does not automatically turn into higher performing solution. SQL
Server also includes two more lightweight mutual exclusion solutions - latches and
spinlocks - which are less robust than locks but are less resource intensive. SQL Server
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uses them for DMVs and other resources that are usually not busy. SQL Server also
monitors all worker threads that acquire locks to ensure that they do not end up in
deadlocks - in case they do, SQL Server takes remedial measures, which in many cases is
to kill one of the threads entangled in a deadlock and rollback the transaction it started.
To implement locking, SQL Server contains the Lock Manager. The Lock Manager
maintains an in-memory table that manages the database objects and locks, if any, on
them along with other metadata about the lock. Access to any shared object is
mediated by the lock manager, which either grants access to the resource or blocks it.
SQL Server also provides the optimistic concurrency control mechanism, which is similar
to the multiversion concurrency control used in other databases. The mechanism allows
a new version of a row to be created whenever the row is updated, as opposed to
overwriting the row, i.e., a row is additionally identified by the ID of the transaction that
created the version of the row. Both the old as well as the new versions of the row are
stored and maintained, though the old versions are moved out of the database into a
system database identified as Tempdb. When a row is in the process of being updated,
any other requests are not blocked (unlike locking) but are executed on the older
version of the row. If the other request is an update statement, it will result in two
different versions of the rows - both of them will be stored by the database, identified
by their respective transaction IDs.
Data retrieval
The main mode of retrieving data from an SQL Server database is querying for it. The
query is expressed using a variant of SQL called T-SQL, a dialect Microsoft SQL Server
shares with Sybase SQL Server due to its legacy. The query declaratively specifies what is
to be retrieved. It is processed by the query processor, which figures out the sequence
of steps that will be necessary to retrieve the requested data. The sequence of actions
necessary to execute a query is called a query plan. There might be multiple ways to
process the same query. For example, for a query that contains a join statement and a
select statement, executing join on both the tables and then executing select on the
results would give the same result as selecting from each table and then executing the
join, but result in different execution plans. In such case, SQL Server chooses the plan
that is supposed to yield the results in the shortest possible time. This is called query
optimization and is performed by the query processor itself.
SQL Server includes a cost-based query optimizer which tries to optimize on the cost, in
terms of the resources it will take to execute the query. Given a query, the query
optimizer looks at the database schema, the database statistics and the system load at
that time. It then decides which sequence to access the tables referred in the query,
which sequence to execute the operations and what access method to be used to access
the tables. For example, if the table has an associated index, whether the index should
be used or not - if the index is on a column which is not unique for most of the columns
(low "selectivity"), it might not be worthwhile to use the index to access the data.
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Finally, it decides whether to execute the query concurrently or not. While a concurrent
execution is more costly in terms of total processor time, because the execution is
actually split to different processors might mean it will execute faster. Once a query plan
is generated for a query, it is temporarily cached. For further invocations of the same
query, the cached plan is used. Unused plans are discarded after some time.
SQL Server also allows stored procedures to be defined. Stored procedures are
parameterized T-SQL queries, that are stored in the server itself (and not issued by the
client application as is the case with general queries). Stored procedures can accept
values sent by the client as input parameters, and send back results as output
parameters. They can also call other stored procedures, and can be selectively provided
access to. Unlike other queries, stored procedures have an associated name, which is
used at runtime to resolve into the actual queries. Also because the code need not be
sent from the client every time (as it can be accessed by name), it reduces network
traffic and somewhat improves performance. Execution plans for stored procedures are
also cached as necessary.
SQL CLR
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 includes a component named SQL CLR via which it integrates
with .NET Framework. Unlike most other applications that use .NET Framework, SQL
Server itself hosts the .NET Framework runtime, i.e., memory, threading and resource
management requirements of .NET Framework are satisfied by SQLOS itself, rather than
the underlying Windows operating system. SQLOS provides deadlock detection and
resolution services for .NET code as well. With SQL CLR, stored procedures and triggers
can be written in any managed .NET language, including C# and VB.NET. Managed code
can also be used to define UDTs which can be persisted in the database. Managed code
is compiled to .NET assemblies and after being verified for type safety, registered at the
database. After that, they can be invoked like any other procedure. However, only a
subset of the Base Class Library is available, when running code under SQL CLR. Most
APIs relating to user interface functionality are not available.
When writing code for SQL CLR, data stored in SQL Server databases can be accessed
using the ADO.NET APIs like any other managed application that accesses SQL Server
data. However, doing that creates a new database session, different from the one in
which the code is executing. To avoid this, SQL Server provides some enhancements to
the ADO.NET provider that allows the connection to be redirected to the same session
which already hosts the running code. Such connections are called context connections
and are set by setting context connection parameter to true in the connection string.
SQL Server also provides several other enhancements to the ADO.NET API, including
classes to work with tabular data or a single row of data as well as classes to work with
internal metadata about the data stored in the database. It also provides access to the
XML features in SQL Server, including XQuery support. These enhancements are also
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available in T-SQL Procedures in consequence of the introduction of the new XML
Datatype (query,value,nodes functions).
Services
SQL Server also includes an assortment of add-on services. While these are not essential
for the operation of the database system, these provide value added services on top of
the core database management system. These services either run as a part of some SQL
Server component or out-of-process as Windows Service and presents their own API to
control and interact with them.
Service Broker
The Service Broker, which runs as a part of the database engine, provides a reliable
messaging and message queuing platform for SQL Server applications. Used inside an
instance, it is used to provide an asynchronous programming environment. For cross
instance applications, Service Broker communicates over TCP/IP and allows the different
components to be synchronized together, via exchange of messages
Replication Services
SQL Server Replication Services are used by SQL Server to replicate and synchronize
database objects, either in entirety or a subset of the objects present, across replication
agents, which might be other database servers across the network, or database caches
on the client side. Replication follows a publisher/subscriber model, i.e., the changes are
sent out by one database server ("publisher") and are received by others
("subscribers"). SQL Server supports three different types of replication:
Transaction replication
Each transaction made to the publisher database (master database) is synced
out to subscribers, who update their databases with the transaction.
Transactional replication synchronizes databases in near real time.
Merge replication
Changes made at both the publisher and subscriber databases are tracked, and
periodically the changes are synchronized bi-directionally between the publisher
and the subscribers. If the same data has been modified differently in both the
publisher and the subscriber databases, synchronization will result in a conflict
which has to be resolved - either manually or by using pre-defined policies.
Snapshot replication
Snapshot replication published a copy of the entire database (the then-snapshot
of the data) and replicates out to the subscribers. Further changes to the
snapshot are not tracked.
Analysis Services
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SQL Server Analysis Services adds OLAP and data mining capabilities for SQL Server
databases. The OLAP engine supports MOLAP, ROLAP and HOLAP storage modes for
data. Analysis Services supports the XML for Analysis standard as the underlying
communication protocol. The cube data can be accessed using MDX queries. Data
mining specific functionality is exposed via the DMX query language. Analysis Services
includes various algorithms - Decision trees, clustering algorithm, Naive Bayes algorithm,
time series analysis, sequence clustering algorithm, linear and logistic regression
analysis, and neural networks - for use in data mining.[
Reporting Services
SQL Server Reporting Services is a report generation environment for data gathered
from SQL Server databases. It is administered via a web interface. Reporting services
features a web services interface to support the development of custom reporting
applications. Reports are created as RDL files.
Reports can be designed using recent versions of Microsoft Visual Studio (including
Visual Studio.NET 2003 onwards) with Business Intelligence Development Studio,
installed or with the included Report Builder. Once created, RDL files can be rendered in
a variety of formats including Excel, PDF, CSV, XML, TIFF (and other image formats), and
HTML Web Archive.
Notification Services
Originally introduced as a post-release add-on for SQL Server 2000, Notification Services
was bundled as part of the Microsoft SQL Server platform for the first and only time
with SQL Server 2005. with Sql Server 2005, SQL Server Notification Services is a
mechanism for generating data-driven notifications, which are sent to Notification
Services subscribers. A subscriber registers for a specific event or transaction (which is
registered on the database server as a trigger); when the event occurs, Notification
Services can use one of three methods to send a message to the subscriber informing
about the occurrence of the event. These methods include SMTP, SOAP, or by writing to
a file in the filesystem.
Integration Services
SQL Server Integration Services is used to integrate data from different data sources. It
is used for the ETL capabilities for SQL Server for data warehousing needs. Integration
Services includes GUI tools to build data extraction workflows integration various
functionality such as extracting data from various sources, querying data, transforming
data including aggregating, duplication and merging data, and then loading the
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transformed data onto other sources, or sending e-mails detailing the status of the
operation.
Full Text Search Service
SQL Server Full Text Search service is a specialized indexing and querying service for
unstructured text stored in SQL Server databases. The full text search index can be
created on any column with character based text data. It allows for words to be
searched for in the text columns. While it can be performed with the SQL LIKE operator,
using SQL Server Full Text Search service can be more efficient. Full Text Search (FTS)
allows for inexact matching of the source string, indicated by a Rank value which can
range from 0 to 1000 - a higher rank means a more accurate match. It also allows
linguistic matching ("inflectional search"), i.e., linguistic variants of a word (such as a
verb in a different tense) will also be a match for a given word (but with a lower rank
than an exact match). Proximity searches are also supported, i.e., if the words searched
for do not occur in the sequence they are specified in the query but are near each other,
they are also considered a match. T-SQL exposes special operators that can be used to
access the FTS capabilities.
The Full Text Search engine is divided into two processes - the Filter Daemon process
(msftefd.exe) and the Search process (msftesql.exe). These processes interact with the
SQL Server. The Search process includes the indexer (that creates the full text indexes)
and the full text query processor. The indexer scans through text columns in the
database. It can also index through binary columns, and use iFilters to extract
meaningful text from the binary blob (for example, when a Microsoft Word document is
stored as an unstructured binary file in a database). The iFilters are hosted by the Filter
Daemon process. Once the text is extracted, the Filter Daemon process breaks it up into
a sequence of words and hands it over to the indexer. The indexer filters out noise
words, i.e., words like A, And etc, which occur frequently and are not useful for search.
With the remaining words, an inverted index is created, associating each word with the
columns they were found in. SQL Server itself includes a Gatherer component that
monitors changes to tables and invokes the indexer in case of updates.
When a full text query is received by the SQL Server query processor, it is handed over
to the FTS query processor in the Search process. The FTS query processor breaks up the
query into the constituent words, filters out the noise words, and uses an inbuilt
thesaurus to find out the linguistic variants for each word. The words are then queried
against the inverted index and a rank of their accurateness is computed. The results are
returned to the client via the SQL Server process.
Tools
SQLCMD
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SQLCMD is a command line application that comes with Microsoft SQL Server, and
exposes the management features of SQL Server. It allows SQL queries to be written and
executed from the command prompt. It can also act as a scripting language to create
and run a set of SQL statements as a script. Such scripts are stored as a .sql file, and are
used either for management of databases or to create the database schema during the
deployment of a database.
Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio includes native support for data programming with Microsoft
SQL Server. It can be used to write and debug code to be executed by SQL CLR. It also
includes a data designer that can be used to graphically create, view or edit database
schemas. Queries can be created either visually or using code. SSMS 2008 onwards,
provides intellisense for SQL queries as well.
SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio is a GUI tool included with SQL Server 2005 and later
for configuring, managing, and administering all components within Microsoft SQL
Server. The tool includes both script editors and graphical tools that work with objects
and features of the server. SQL Server Management Studio replaces Enterprise Manager
as the primary management interface for Microsoft SQL Server since SQL Server 2005. A
version of SQL Server Management Studio is also available for SQL Server Express
Edition, for which it is known as SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_SQL - cite_note-44#cite_note-44
A central feature of SQL Server Management Studio is the Object Explorer, which allows
the user to browse, select, and act upon any of the objects within the server. It can be
used to visually observe and analyze query plans and optimize the database
performance, among others. SQL Server Management Studio can also be used to create
a new database, alter any existing database schema by adding or modifying tables and
indexes, or analyze performance. It includes the query windows which provide a GUI
based interface to write and execute queries.
Business Intelligence Development Studio
Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) is the IDE from Microsoft used for
developing data analysis and Business Intelligence solutions utilizing the Microsoft SQL
Server Analysis Services, Reporting Services and Integration Services. It is based on the
Microsoft Visual Studio development environment but customizes with the SQL Server
services-specific extensions and project types, including tools, controls and projects for
reports (using Reporting Services), Cubes and data mining structures (using Analysis
Services).
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Programmability
T-SQL
T-SQL (Transact-SQL) is the primary means of programming and managing SQL Server. It
exposes keywords for the operations that can be performed on SQL Server, including
creating and altering database schemas, entering and editing data in the database as
well as monitoring and managing the server itself. Client applications, both which
consume data or manage the server, leverage SQL Server functionality by sending T-SQL
queries and statements which are then processed by the server and results (or errors)
returned to the client application. SQL Server allows it to be managed using T-SQL. For
this it exposes read only tables from which server statistics can be read. Management
functionality is exposed via system-defined stored procedures which can be invoked
from T-SQL queries to perform the management operation.
SQL Native Client
SQL Native Client is the native client side data access library for Microsoft SQL Server,
version 2005 onwards. It natively implements support for the SQL Server features
including the Tabular Data Stream implementation, support for mirrored SQL Server
databases, full support for all data types supported by SQL Server, asynchronous
operations, query notifications, encryption support, as well as receiving multiple result
sets in a single database session. SQL Native Client is used under the hood by SQL Server
plug-ins for other data access technologies, including ADO or OLE DB. It is also used by
the native SQL Server ADO.NET provider, SqlClient. The SQL Native Client can also be
directly used, bypassing the generic data access layers.
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VII. Glossary of terms:
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990): As it pertains to paratransit, one section
of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is specific to public
transportation provided by public entities. This section requires the provision of
paratransit services by public entities. It states that the lack of accessibility or certain
services by any “public agency” can be considered discrimination, regardless of who it
actually affects.
Apache HTTP Server (also known simply as “Apache”): is a web server notable for
playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web.
API (Application Programming Interface): An application programming interface is a
set of functions, procedures, methods, classes or protocols that an operating system,
library or service provides to support requests made by computer programs.
AVL (Automatic Vehicle Locator): a device or component in software that transmits the
vehicle location to the dispatcher on a regular interval.
Batch Scheduling: is the ability to select a set or subset of trips to be scheduled or the
ability to schedule a group of trips.
Database: a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system.
Database Management System (DBMS): is computer software designed for the purpose
of managing databases. The role of a DBMS in a larger system is to allow other software,
or users, to store and retrieve data in a structured way.
Firefox: Like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser.
Google Maps: is a free web mapping service application and technology provided by
Google that powers many map-based services including the Google Maps website,
Google Ride Finder and embedded maps on third-party websites via the Google Maps
API. It offers street maps, a route planner for bicycles, pedestrians (routes less than 6.2
miles) and cars, and an urban business locator for numerous countries around the
world.
Linux: a modular Unix-like operating system. Linux is predominantly known for its use in
servers.
MDC (Mobile Data Computer): see MDT (Mobile Data Terminal).
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MDT (Mobile Data Terminal): a mobile computerized device used in police cars,
taxicabs, courier vehicles, service trucks, commercial trucking fleets, military logistics,
fishing fleets, warehouse inventory control, and emergency vehicles to communicate
with a central dispatch office.
Multi-Modal Scheduling Solutions: is the ability for paratransit software to scheudule
trips using more than one “mode” of transportation or across transit agencies and
barriers for the convenience of the client.
Multiple Agency Functionality: the ability for paratransit software to accommodate
multiple transit operators accessing a common dataset for the purposes of coordinated
transportation.
ODBC (Open Database Connectivity): provides a standard software Application
Programming Interface (API) method for using database management systems (DBMS).
Oracle: a relational database management system (RDBMS) produced and marketed by
Oracle Corporation.
Oracle 10g: 10g is Oracle's grid computing product group including (among other things)
a database management system (DBMS) and an application server. In addition to
supporting grid computing features such as resource sharing and automatic load
balancing, 10g products automate many database management tasks. 10g follows
Oracle's 9i platform. Oracle says that the g (instead of the expected i) in the name
symbolizes the company's commitment to the grid model.
Oracle 11g: The newest version of Oracle with features not found in Oracle 10g, such as
automatic memory tuning, storage pool sharing among databases, and an automatic
diagnostic repository that creates an “incident” ticket that informs the database
administrator (DBA) immediately.
RDBMS (Relational Database Management System): a Database Management System
(DBMS) in which data is stored in the form of tables and the relationship among the
data is also stored in the form of tables.
Red Hat Linux: is a Linux based operating system assembled by the company Red Hat.
It was discontinuation in 2004.
Relational Database: a database that groups data using common attributes found in the
data set.
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Rule-Based System: In computer science, rule-based systems are used as a way to store
and manipulate knowledge to interpret information in a useful way. They are often used
in artificial intelligence applications and research. A classic example of a rule-based
system is the domain-specific expert system that uses rules to make deductions or
choices
Server: a computer program that provides services to other computer programs (and
their users), in the same or another computer. The physical computer that runs a server
program is also sometimes referred to as a server.
Single Insert Scheduling: is the ability to enter a trip request via the Internet from any
web accessible computer that allows a trip schedule module for dedicated transit staff
as well as multiple parameter and violation sets.
SSN: Acronym for Social Security Number.
Vendor: in this report, Vendor refers to the software provider.
Web Based Interface: an application that is accessed via web browser over a network
such as the Internet or an intranet.
X. Transit Software Agencies and Contacts
Resources List:
1. Mobilitat
Cindy Johnson (Owner)
480-627-8400
Cindy.Johnson@mobilitatsoftware.com
www.mobilitatsoftware.com
1605 Green River Way
Green River, WY 82935
2. Ecolane, USA
Ryan Larsen (President)
712-764-9101
Ryan.Larsen@ecolane.com
www.ecolane.com
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3. Shah Software
Jagat Shah – Owner
432-694-6044
1-800-968-2748
www.shahsoftware.com
4. RouteMatch
Patrick Cheek
404-253-7845
Patrick.cheek@routematch.com
www.routematch.com
Secondary Contact:
Dustin Koch
Regional Sales Director (Midwest Region
404-253-7889
678-637-1773 (cell)
Dustin.Koch@routematch.com
5. CTS
Adam Fox
afox@cts-software.com
Can be contacted also via sales or tech support e-mails on the site
1-800-704-0064
sales@cts-software.com
www.cts-software.com
Main Office
Fax: (866)244-4351
Address: 722 Cedar Point Blvd. Box 14
Cedar Point, NC 28584
6. Trapeze
www.trapezegroup.com
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