Effective Utilization of Advanced
Public Transportation Systems
(APTS) Technology
19th Annual
Transportation Disadvantaged Best
Practices and
Training Workshop Program
August 9th, 2011
Welcome
• Jim Dorsten
Application of advanced and
emerging technologies in
information processing,
communications, control, and
electronics to meet public
transportation needs
• Doug Jamison
• Marsha Moore
Why APTS?
• Transportation service providers employ APTS to provide:
▫ Customer: Traveler information, more convenient
routes, schedules, access
▫ Efficiency / Productivity: Lower costs,
operations, maintenance, improved response / travel times
▫ Optimize System Management: Planning,
monitoring, operator assistance, administrative processes
▫ Safety & Security: Controls, surveillance,
communication, emergencies
Types of APTS
1. Communication Systems
2. Operational Software (e.g. Scheduling)
3. Advanced Traveler Information Systems
(ATIS)
4. Electronic Fare Payment (EFP)
5. Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD)
6. Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
7. Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) or Mobile Data
Computers (MDCs)
8. Automatic Passenger Counters (APC)
9. Surveillance and Security Equipment
10. Coordination and Integration Software
Advanced Traveler
Information Systems (ATIS)
• Includes: internet websites, automated
telephone systems, audible enunciators, kiosks,
transit stops with automated information, trip
planners, smart phone apps
• May be static or real-time
• Schedules, fares, routes, transfers, arrival time,
and availability of special equipment
• Available on vehicle, at stop, on the internet,
phone, or mobile phone
Advanced Traveler Information Systems
Electronic Fare Payment
• Pay electronically using a
magnetic stripe card or
smart card
• Coordinated billing and
invoicing between
human services agencies
and transit providers
Electronic Fare Payment
Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)
CAD is used to assist
agencies in dispatching
paratransit / flex-routing
vehicles and is
typically integrated with
AVL and other
information management
technologies, such as
scheduling and routing
software
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
• Using a positioning system, such
as the global positioning systems
(GPS), and a Geographic
Information System (GIS) the
operating agency can track its
buses
• Combining AVL with ATIS, the
agency can alert riders with realtime information
• Combining AVL with CAD, the
agency can reroute vehicles to
provide flexible service
CAD/AVL
Mobile Data Terminal/Computer
• An MDT/MDC is a small
on-board computer and
interface that links the
driver to an agency’s
computer network
through wireless
communications
Mobile Data Terminal/Computer
Why?
Benefits
• Improve communication between
operators and dispatch
• Pre-recorded messages
• Automated transfer requests
•
•
•
•
More reliable service
Quicker communications
Reduced response time to incidents
Reduced recording errors
Automatic Passenger
Counters (APC)
• An APC system provides a transit system with an
automated method for collecting information
about the number of passenger boardings and
alightings at a variety of system levels, including
route, route segment, or specific bus stops by
time of day and by day of week.
• Can be integrated into AVL systems
Automatic Passenger Counters (APC)
Surveillance and Security Equipment
• Safety and security
technologies include video
surveillance cameras, silent
alarms and covert
microphones on vehicles,
and “smart” cards for driver
identification.
• Surveillance and security
systems can be provided in
transit vehicles and at transit
stops and stations.
Surveillance and Security Equipment
Coordination/Integration Software
• This technology helps agencies with scheduling,
routing, billing, and reporting.
• Typical applications include:
▫ coordinating paratransit routes and schedules
within a single agency or among multiple agencies
▫ coordinating fare card usage and billing among
multiple agencies
▫ integrating software systems across multimodal
transit systems
Coordination/Integration Software
APTS Success Steps / Cycle
Business
Objectives
Technology
Assessment
• Stakeholders
• Survey
• Customer:
System Engineering
Functional Areas
• Operations
• Cost & Schedule
Implementation
Test - Operate
• Functional Specs
• Procurement
•Testing
• Efficiency:
•Legacy Systems
•Performance
• Performance:
• Needs
•Training &
•Training
•Benefits
Support
•Operating
•Test
•Maintaining
•Manufacturing
•Data Management
• Service:
• Safety:
• Priorities
•Conceptual
•Implementation
Plans
process
Use the Data!
Panel
Presentations
Application of advanced and
emerging technologies in
information processing,
communications, control, and
electronics to meet public
transportation needs
• Jim Dorsten
• Doug Jamison
• Marsha Moore
• Jim Dorsten
• Doug Jamison
• Marsha Moore
Why
How
Who
•
•
•
•
• Planning
• System
Engineering
• Procure,
Contract
• Train
• Maintain
• Stakeholders
• Customer
Markets
• Functional
Areas
• Enterprise
Data Central
G&O
Customer
Ops
Employees
ITS Vee Technical Model
System Engineering / Procure / Implement
A description of the
scope of the ITS
project;
An operational
concept that
identifies the roles
and responsibilities
of participating
agencies and
stakeholders in the
operation and
implementation of
the ITS project;
Identification of
applicable ITS
standards.
Procurement
Implementation
Small Florida Transit System - LeeTran
APTS Technology
Usage
AVL, MDC’s, Scheduling
Software
Reservations, trip scheduling, vehicle/operator
scheduling, manifests, reporting.
GIS
Service planning, long-range planning, stop
inventory, ADA accessibility, etc.
Electronic Fareboxes
Ticket reader/issue machines with magnetic
stripe tickets
Online Trip Planner
Assist passengers to plan trips
APCs
Service planning and infrastructure planning
Arrival Prediction System
CAD, headway and schedule adherence
Small Florida Transit Systems – Bay
Town Trolley
•
•
•
•
•
•
APC on 6 buses
Zonar AVL on 16 trolley buses
Onboard Annunciators
Electronic Fareboxes – GFI Genfare
Digital recording – Digitial Recorders Inc.
Working towards getting data on Google Transit
Small Florida Transit System – Key West
Transit
Full Real Time
Passenger Information
System - with"pooled" bid
award pricing
incorporated into the
contract - includes GPS,
AVL, IVR, APC, digital
display boards, etc., - bid
awarded in 2008 to
Syncromatics, Inc.
Other Small Florida Transit Systems
ECAT and PCPT both have working AVL and
Electronic Fareboxes.
MCAT is in the implementation/testing phase for
AVL and APCs.
PCPT, LAMTD and Collier Area Transit are
looking at purchasing ITS technologies within the
next 18 months.
Steps in Considering APTS Technologies
• Assess the issues and/or needs of the system (In
what areas can the system be improved?)
• Collect agency data
• Examine existing research/solutions
• Prioritize improvements (What will provide the
most benefits?)
• Gather existing resources (What grant programs
are available?)
• Request proposals from vendors
AGENDA
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Why
How
Who