TIMS – A New User Introduction to Students, Stops, Runs & Routes Presented by Marc Perez & Kevin Hart NCPTA, Asheville, NC 2015

TIMS – A New User Introduction to Students, Stops, Runs & Routes

Presented by Marc Perez & Kevin Hart

NCPTA, Asheville, NC 2015

Goals for The Class

◦Basic Screen Navigation

◦Students, Stops, Runs & Routes Overview

◦Run Directions

◦Simple Reports

Getting Started

The Launch Pad is used to enter the different Edulog modules in each database you have.

LIVE SN FALL SS WHAT IF

Entering Edulog.NT

An autostreeter map and basic tools are displayed automatically when you open Edulog.NT.

Autostreeter

Autostreeter is the program that updates the street map as additions or edits to the Geocode (MAP) are made.

Autostreeter creates ‘overlays’ or ‘layers’ of your map. Each layer represents an image of your map. This may be the entire map or subsets of it, such as streets of a specific speed.

In this sample overlay;

All grey lines represent streets (segments) with speeds set 1-60.

All red lines represent ‘no travel’ segments.

We will see how autostreeter designates ‘no travel’ segments in just a moment.

Autostreeter

◦Autostreet layers are just a picture of the map taken at a point in time.

◦Autostreet layers are available in Edulog, Maris, Elplot and GeBndplan.

◦After any geocode is added, moved or deleted, autostreeter layers must be updated before you’ll be able to view the changes.

Autostreeter

Layers will display on top of one another in the order they were created. So the last layer created is displayed on top of (or over) the layers preceding it.

Lets Practice Removing a few layers.

Select the last layer entry then click the Remove button. Continue this process to remove more layers.

Autostreeter

Layers will display on top of one another in the order they were created. So the last layer created is displayed on top of (or over) the layers preceding it.

Now lets create our layers in the preferred order.

To begin, Click Add.

Type in the name you want for the overlay.

Select Type.

Typical Autostreet Layers and Ordering

Layer Name Type Speed Segment Level

1. All Segments Segment All Segments

2. All Streets Street 1 – 60

3. County Line Street 98 - 98

4. Hazard Segment Hazard

5. No Travel Segment Direction > No Travel

6. One Way Segment Direction > One Way

7. Private Road Segment 9 - 9

8. Rivers Segment 97 – 97

9. RailRoads Segment 99 – 99

10. Bridges Segment Feature Class = BRG

11. Military Base Segment 96 – 96

12. Apartments Segment Feature Class = APT

13. Mobile Home Parks Segment Feature Class = MHP

14. School Drive Segment Feature Class = SCH

15. Special Needs Segment Feature Class = SN

16. Sex Offenders Segment Feature Class = SO

Autostreeter

Typically, when finished adding all of our new layers, we select Extract and Build

Important: Do not Extract and Build while any users are in the Database.

This will cause the autostreeter program to hang and may require you to recreate your layers.

After the Autostreeter build

When you re-enter Edulog or MARIS, you may see this confirmation message that lets you know that Autostreeter information has changed.

Select Yes at the prompt

Displaying Autostreeter Layers in Edulog or MarisClicking on the grey box beside ‘Autostreeter’ in the map legend will display the control window for the different layers.

Clicking on each layer name will open up a configuration box that allows you to change the color and line width of that layer.

Moving through the Tool Bar

Map Display Measuring Lines & Area Locate & ID tools (with the addition of

segment id features)

Zoom options

Measuring Tools

Locate Tools

Note: Other useful tools will display if you load student, stops or runs in display mode.

ID Tools

Measuring Tools

Use the measuring tools to measure distances on your map.

◦ Measure Straight Line

◦ Measure Polyline ( allows you to follow a street path)

◦ Measure Area

Straight

Polyline

Area

Students Menu

Display and Tabular Modes:

Tabular – used to work with individual records (Text).

Display/Graphical – used to work with student(s) on the map – allows use of the Graphical commands such as the ability to load and work with stops.

Accessing Data

Student Data can be accessed by:

◦ Last Name◦ Group by Area (use work list)◦ All for a specific school (use work list)

Student Database

Go to Students ~ Tabular

Type in the Student’s Last Name and click Find.

Then double-click on an individual student record, or highlight the name and click OK.

The Student Tabular Screen

Other Fields – where information such as parents and emergency contacts are found.

Trips –opens the Trips window, which allows you to modify the student’s transportation data.

Student Trips

◦Trip – one portion of a student’s daily travel.◦Consists of travel between any origin and destination.◦Change of origin or destination requires another trip.

Examples: home to school in the morning is one trip. School to daycare in the afternoon is another trip.

◦Each trip has a frequency of use.◦Example: home to school on MWF is one trip, Grandma’s to school on TTh is another trip.

More About Trips

All Students will get two default trips:

◦Home to School◦School to Home

Other types of trips might be:

◦Transfers◦Additional trips during the day◦Travel at different times on different days

Relocating Students

◦A student can be relocated in the tabular mode but not in the display mode.

◦Go to Students-Tabular.

◦Key in the new location.

◦ Confirm changes to student record.

◦Notice that any assigned trips become unassigned.

Student - Display/Graphical

When displayed, you can:◦Assign students to stops◦Deassign from a stop or service◦Show Passenger List

◦NOTE: When using the Graphical mode the student(s) must be displayed before all of these functions are available.

◦You can also complete these functions in Tabular.

Practice - Student Display

◦Go to Student > Display and enter “SMITH” for last name

◦Select every other Smith on the first screen using the Ctrl key

Map Legend

• Items that are loaded will be listed in the map legend on the left side of the screen.

• Two checks note the layers visible and are active.

• The first check mark indicates the layer is visible to you, the second column indicates that the layer is ‘loaded’.

Map Legend and Menu Options

Once you have Students, Stops or Runs displayed you will notice more Icons become active.

ID Stop and Student

Stop Tools

Run Tools

Stops, Runs, and Routes

Much of the work you will do in Edulog will be with a combination of students, stops, and runs data.

Working in the Graphic mode will make this a straightforward process.

Stop Properties

Bus stops are locations where buses pickup and drop off students.

The stop ID can be a combination of numbers/letters.

◦ The first 3 are the school code followed by a period (.).

◦ The three digits that follow could be a combination of letters and numbers; the system assigns numbers but you can define them as needed for exceptions.

◦ A three digit extension also follows the stop number identifying the individual stop services.

308.019001

Accessing Stop Records

Stops > Tabular from the menu◦Enter a school code (308) and ‘enter’ will give you the first 100 stops for that school code.

◦Enter the 6 digit stop number and open it directly (separated with the period)

◦Range – allows you to enter a range of stop numbers

◦Use a Work List

Tabular Stop Screen

Creating New Stop Records -Tabular

To create a new stop record, type in the school code then click New.

Creating New Stop Records – Tabular

The stop ID is automatically assigned by the system unless it is specified by the operator.


When a valid address is keyed in and the keyboard’s TAB button is pressed, the address will be ‘located’. Node numbers for the matching segment populate in the Nd1 and Nd2 fields.


Add AM and PM services:

Creating a New Stop-Graphically

Stops > Graphical > Create

Select your school code.

You can select the rest of the stop number or allow the system to do it for you.


Type in the address or intersection of the stop in the location field; then click on Addr Match.

Hint: To make an intersection stop, click on the mouse icon then click on the map.


If a description is needed such as a Day Care Center, General Store etc.. use the Description field.

The Next Stop button will save the current stop, and keep the window open so another stop can be created.

Accessing a Range of Stops

You can key in a range of stop ID numbers or select Current View which will display all Stops found in the map at your current zoom level.

This becomes like a quick access list you can scroll through as you work.

Practice: Making Stops

Make the following stops using the graphical method.Use school code 320.

Milling Rd & N Main St

640 N Main St

W Lexington Rd & S Main St

449 S Salisbury St

273 Valley Rd

Wilkesboro St & Yadkinville Rd

Other Functions in Stops - Tabular

◦Echo Stops

◦Relocate the stop by typing in a new address in the location field

◦View the services

◦Add/Edit/Delete Services

◦Get a passenger list

◦Insert or Assign the Stop to a Run•Assign – the system suggests sequence based on time added

• Insert – you determine the sequence

◦Deassign the Stop from a Run

Getting a Passenger List

To obtain a passenger list, select a service, then click on the Passengers button.

Example of Passenger List

Stop Services

Stop services indicate a single portion of a stop’s use.

Each stop service has a frequency indicating the days of the week the stop is used.

Each stop service also has a destination time to indicate when students need to be at their destination.

Assigning Stops to Students - Tabular

Edulog.nt has a very quick and efficient way to assign the closest available stop to and from the student’s home by using the “Quick Assign” button.


Quick Assign will bring up the closest available stop for the AM and PM trip.


Choose the Trips button

*notice the trips on the student record.


You can choose the Schedule Trip option – this allows you to choose from Active or Inactive Stops.


Schedule Trip can also be used to key in the Stop ID number.

Assigning Stops to Students - Graphically

There must be active students and stops or runs loaded to perform the graphic assign feature.

You can use the point or polygon method to select students and stops.

You must choose the services to assign, and have valid stop loads and distances for the assignment to take place.

Deassign Stops from Students - Graphically

You can use point or polygon to select students.

You must select services to Deassign.

Run Properties

Bus Runs are a sequence of bus stops that a bus services for part of the day’s transportation requirements.

The Run ID is a combination of numbers/letters.

◦ The first 3 are the school code followed by a period (.).

◦ The three digits that follow could be a combination of letters and numbers; the system assigns numbers but you can define them as needed.

◦ Typically NC sites use the following structure to identify AM and PM runs

AM Runs PM Runs

304.001 304.101

304.002 304.102

304.003 304.103

304.004 304.104

AM Runs: Checkpoints, Loaded & Deadhead Runs

◦Checkpoints are to or from parking location. In the diagram below, the Checkpoint is at ‘School 1’.

◦Deadheads are between runs

@CP

School 1Checkpoint

Run 1 Loaded

Run 2Loaded

Deadhead run

School 2

PM Runs: Loaded, Deadhead & Checkpoints

◦The first Deadhead in PM gets the bus from the end of AM activity (previous slide) to the beginning of PM activity

◦The final Checkpoint gets you to parking for the evening

@CP

School 1

Deadhead Run

Run 1Loaded

Run 2Loaded

Checkpoint

Deadhead run

School 2

Runs Menu

The Run Menu give you options such as..• Create runs• Delete runs• Reorder Services • Rename runs• Resequence Stops on Runs• Insert, Assign, and Deassign Stops• Insert Checkpoint • Edit Time at Stop• Edit Headcounts• Edit Loading Times• Open Run Summaries• View Run Directions

You can also complete these functions in Tabular.

Loading Runs Quickly

◦Runs > Display provides a way to load runs by run number or by using a list.

Loading Runs Quickly

Type in the school code you want to work with and click Find; any run that begins with that number will show up in the keyfinder.

You can use the mouse to select a single run, or use the ctrl & shift keys to select and un-select runs.

*Hint: 308.0 will find AM runs for school 308 and 308.1 will find PM runs for school 308.

Creating Runs-Graphically

◦Click on Runs > Graphical >Create to create a new run for school 308

◦Create a run number (308.009)

◦Add the Description PEREZ RUN

◦Edit Load and MaxTime if necessary

◦Pick the destination time

◦Click ‘OK’

To create a run graphically, you must have the stops you intend to include on the run displayed and loaded.

Creating Runs-Graphically

◦The next window that appears is a very simple one used to create the run sequence.

◦Use the mouse button on the window to select the first stop by clicking the mouse, then clicking on the stop on the map.

◦Use the “Next Stop” button to continue until all the stops are on the run.

◦Note that the school appears as a bus symbol.

◦Click ‘OK’ when all the stops are added to the run.

Other Stop Features – Insert Stops

With a run and stop displayed, choose

Stops > Graphical >Insert Stops or click this icon.


1. Pick the Stop

2. Pick the Run

3. Pick the Position

All of these selections can be made from the pull down menu, or using the mouse option to select the items on the screen


The Stop has been added!

Other Stop Features – Deassign Stops

With a run and stop displayed, choose

Stops >Graphical > Deassign Stop or click this icon.

• Select the Run

• Select the stop by the Stop ID number or use the mouse icon and choose the stop graphically by clicking on it.

Click on Confirm to Deassign the Stop.

Other Stop Features – Deassign Stops

Checkpoints

Checkpoints are locations on a bus run defining where the bus needs to start and finish for the day.

You can enter a checkpoint in the tabular or graphical mode.

To place a checkpoint on a run graphically you must first have the run displayed. Click on Runs>Graphical>Insert Checkpoint to get started.

Checkpoints

Using the mouse; identify the run you wish to place the checkpoint on.

The system is smart enough to figure out you want a checkpoint BEFORE the first stop on a run.

To use Landmarks as a checkpoint, click beside the landmark name.

Confirm your work!

Reverse a Run

◦ The Reverse feature allows you to create a run that is an exact reverse of another run.◦ This can be a great time saver for creating runs that go in the opposite directions (such as afternoon runs that go to

the same stops as the morning runs, but in the opposite order).

Reverse a Run

Make sure the run(s) you want to make a reverse of is displayed then go to Runs>Group Processes>Reverse

Fill in the new run information.

Note: My plan here was to make a PM run from my AM run, so the new Run ID ends 101

The Reverse feature allows you to create a run that is an exact reverse of another run.

This can be a great time saver for creating runs that go in the opposite directions (such as afternoon runs that go to the same stops as the morning runs, but in the opposite order).

Deadhead Runs

The system automatically creates a “deadhead” run between the end of the morning runs and the beginning of the afternoon runs.

If this is a different location than where the run ends, you will need to change this by placing a checkpoint where the bus needs to park for mid-day.

Tabular Runs

◦Like Stops, there is a tabular Runs feature in Edulog.nt.

◦Go to Runs > Tabular to see the an individual run record.

Other Functions in Tabular Runs

Rename a run

View the route data

Insert a stop or school

Assign a stop or school

Deassign school or

stop

Edit stop times

Headcount

Load Times

Reorder the stops

Obtain Run Directions

What are Run Directions? sometimes called - Driver Directions

Run directions look for the fastest way to travel from point A to point B based on segment adjacencies, length, speed and direction.

Run directions fill in the details of how this is going to happen in your district’s street network.

Fine tuning these attributes through Maris allow the data to reflect “real world” times and distances for your bus runs. (ie editing speeds)

First, we will look at the process for working with loaded runs.

This does not include Deadhead portions of Routes.

Generating Run Directions

With a run displayed, go to Runs>Graphical>Directions or click on this icon.

Run displayed (crowflight) Run directions displayed (streets followed

Run Directions are easy to read

You have clear, easy-to-read screens for directions.

You are now able to see things like turnarounds on the screen and in the run direction text.

You can see which text direction goes with each item on the map. The pink segment is the same segment highlighted in the text box.

Run Direction Display

Notice the - - - ? These are ungenerated gaps in the directions.

You may get these gaps as you insert or deassign stops on existing runs.

Auto Generate the run directions before you print them.

Note: be sure to check:◦Update Run Times, ◦Auto generate for all day patterns◦Delete Existing Directions.

Generate Directions for a Run

Once directions have been generated you can go to ‘Generate Report’, choose your options, and print a report of stops and driver directions.

Generate Directions for a Run

A popular option is to include student information in the run directions

Simply select any student attributes you want included in the report, click Add and Ok when finished

Sample of a Driver Directions report

Generating Multiple Run Directions at one time

Whichever method you choose, you will need to have this utility point to a Runs Worklist.

Your worklist could contain one or all runs for a school or all runs in the system.

You can run a Batch from EMU to automatically generate directions for all your runs in TIMS or you can run that same process from edulognt by going to Runs>Group Processes>Directions

Routes

A bus route is a sequence of bus runs or the sum total of the activity of a single bus during a day.

Example: a run taking students to school in the morning, and one taking them home at the end of the school day.

Routes>Tabular

The Route number and Bus number are usually the same.

Key in the number – click ‘New’ (for new route or ‘Find’ for an existing route).

RoutesIf creating a new route, fill in Bus Number, Load, Description

Insert Run Numbers that make up the Route

Whichever method you choose, you will need to have this utility point to a Routes Worklist.

Your worklist could contain one or all routes for a school or all routes in the system.

Similar to Generating Run Directions, You can run a Batch from EMU to automatically generate directions for all your routes in TIMS or you can run that same process from edulognt by going to Routes>Group Processes>Directions

Generating Route Directions

Other Functions in Tabular Routes

• Rename a Route• It is important to check all of the

information attached to the route for necessary changes; such as the bus number or the route description which often includes the bus number.

• Delete a Route• All Runs must be deassigned from the

route before it can be deleted.

Tips & Pointers

◦Make Backups DAILY using the TIMS backup program!

◦Everyone should be out of the programs when System Maintenance is being run (EMU).

◦Use tabular mode only when trying to access one or two individual records.

◦Using the graphic features of the system eliminates ANY guesswork as to whether or not a stop has been created or if it is on a run.

◦Take extra care in network environments to enter and exit the system “gracefully” – LOG OUT PROPERLY!

Help

Visit the help menu in Edulog.nt.

Using Help

Take a few minutes to explore the help system.

Go to Index and pick a topic to read about.

Backup your data with TIMS backup v2

TIMS backup is a program provided by the TIMS support staff to backup your data. You will usually find this icon on your desktop.

You should backup your data on a DAILY basis if you are making changes to your data!

Using TIMS backup

1.Prompts you for the database you want to backup - defaults: LIVE

2.If not hardcoded in your system, you may be asked your LEA #

3.Asks if you want to enter any additional description to your backup’s name. - OPTIONAL

Using TIMS backup.. Cont.

4. You are then shown the full name of your backup along with the location it will be created.

5. The backup begins processing and a status window appears. Do not interrupt or cancel this window. It will close when your backup is complete.

Questions?

Run Optimization 2008

Documents

TIMS – A New User Introduction to Students, Stops, Runs & Routes Presented by Marc Perez & Kevin Hart NCPTA, Asheville, NC 2015