|
|
| FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY |
 |
| Providing Customers with Real-Time Information |
| BY ARJAN vanANDEL, Director, Business Development, ITS North America Trapeze ITS U.S.A. Cedar Rapids, IA |
 Studies have shown that accurate customer information decreases waiting time for transportation services. In addition, good information reduces complaints to agencies such as: “I was waiting in the cold and snow, but my bus never showed up,” and increases such compliments as: “I could take an extra cup of coffee, because I knew the first arriving bus was full.”
With the acquisition of former Siemens/Continental Group, Trapeze added a strong component into the product line, which integrates various planning and scheduling applications such as Trapeze, Giro Hastus, and Schedule Masters. It enabled Trapeze to enter into the real-time traveler information with a full suite of INFOrmation, to provide riders with accurate information for their personal trips.
Customer information is the integrated data from the scheduled system, compared with the real-time positions of the fleet, provided to the individual travelers. In the past, real-time information was only provided by agencies with Computer Aided Dispatch/Automated Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) systems. Due to the lack of interfaces between systems, the traveler information was then only provided by the providers of CAD AVL technologies.
Nowadays, interfaces such as TCIP and VDV enable agencies to use traveler information systems from other providers, and are then able to connect in real time to the existing CAD AVL systems. Trapeze developed an application that performs this interfacing with AVL and scheduling systems and creates the opportunity to set up multi-modal systems by integrating train, light rail, and paratransit information. It facilitates one “look and feel” towards the passenger and provides the traveler with door-to-door travel advice.
If the agency does not have vehicle location systems in place, Trapeze can equip vehicles with a low-cost positioning unit that sends vehicle number and adherence to a central location. Through this method, travelers can be informed without the need to invest in a CAD AVL system.
Main Components of Customer Information
The main components of the customer-facing applications are OnStreet systems, web applications, and mobile applications.
The SmartInfo sign is used on the street at stops where a modern impression is required. This award-winning matrix LED sign can be delivered in multiple variants, such as 2-line and 4-line and with or without speakers to inform hearing disabled people about arrival status of the vehicles. It can communicate using various radio and cellular protocols.
The latest development is to equip shelters with small and compact signs, using low energy. These signs—easy to install and cost efficient—provide riders at shelter locations with arrival information.
Arrival/departure signs are used in terminals or at places where multiple arrivals and departures are taking place and where the transit agency would like to provide additional updates to the riders, such as weather, connection information, or commercial advertisements.
There are various options for web-based information: the trip planner is a proven application installed at many locations throughout North America. By adding a real-time component, the web site gives direct information about delays or disturbances.
Another module shows the next bus arrivals at a certain stop or for a specific route. Buses are shown in real time on a map, so that passengers always can see where their bus or train is.
The latest web applications provide customers with the option to subscribe to travel alerts for such specifics as modal mode, route, and time of day. These multi-lingual applications ensure that the travel is always informed about the status of service and disruptions via e-mail or text message.
Travelers also expect to have the latest information on their mobile devices through a browser or application. I-phone applications and services for Blackberry's and mobile phones with only texting functionality are widely available.
Conclusion
Real time traveler information requires up-to-date schedules and real-time vehicle location information. In the past this information could only be provided as an extension of existing CAD/AVL systems. Today, traveler information can be provided as add-on to an existing system or if no real-time vehicle hardware is installed. Agencies can install modern SmartInfo and ShelterDisplays as well as advanced internet services, including subscription services to alerts for specific routes, disturbances, and modes of transportation. A passenger can expect to have the latest information on hand and will always know when his/her service will arrive. The transit provider can count on higher reliability and better perceived on-time performance.
|
|
|
 |
|
| CLASSIFIEDS |
| » The Alexandria Transit Company is looking for a Director of Planning and Development. [More] |
| » The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is looking for a Senior Transit Operations Planner. [More] |
| View more Classified Ads » |
|
| TO PLACE AN AD: E-mail or fax the requested date(s) of publication to: ptads@apta.com or FAX to (202) 496-4898. Mailing address is: Passenger Transport, 1666 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.
Ad copy is not accepted by phone. DEADLINE: Noon, Monday, one week prior to publication date. INFORMATION: Phone (202) 496-4819. |
|
