Transit services: gathering data from vehicle operations

Prof. Ing. Antonio Comi Teoria dei Sistemi di Trasporto 1 + 2 (9 CFU)

Teoria dei Sistemi di Trasporto 1 + 2 (9 CFU)

A. A. 2020 - 2021

Transit services:gathering data from vehicle operations

prof. ing. Antonio Comi

Department of Enterprise Engineering

University of Rome Tor Vergata


Introduction

➢ Nowsday, the practice points out that data are available to mobility

agency or to transit operators for planning, management and

operations control

*AVL-based methods (AVL - automated vehicle location) or AVM (automated vehicle

monitoring) systems give more accurate information, especially in time and space, than do

other item-specific automated methods and, therefore, can be looked at as a separate

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manual-based

methods

automated-based

methods*


Introduction

➢ manual-based methods

➢ automated-based

methods

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High costs and

then limited use

Although they are developing

rapidly, they are not always linked

with the real needs of planning,

management and operation control

of transit systems

Having too much data is often as bad as having too little


Data usage

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➢ User side: to provide an answer to the base needs of

transport/transit systems

✓For example: Where is the closest stop? What time should I be at the stop?…

➢ Operator side: to provide a support to transport operators for

improving the service supplied✓For example: How can the network of routes, stops and terminals be improved?

How can each route be improved? What is the best timetable to deliver? How can

fleet size be minimized while maintaining the same level-of-service? How can

crew cost be minimized without service changes?, …


The three important keys for a successful transit system

➢ Gathering and comprehending adequate data

➢ Using the data collected for intelligent planning and decisions

➢ Employing the plans and decisions for astutely conducted

operations and control

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Data-collection techniques

➢ Point check

➢ Ride check

➢ Deadhead check

➢ Passenger survey

➢ Population survey

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Data-collection techniquesPoint check

Point check is usually described as counts and measurements

performed by a checker stationed at a transit stop.

➢ The stop selected is virtually the maximum (peak) load point, at

which the transit vehicle departing this stop has, on average, the

maximum on-board load across all route segments.)

➢ For each vehicle passing the stop, the point check usually contains

load counts, arrival and departure times, and vehicle and route

identifications.

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Data-collection techniques (1/2)Ride check

Ride check refers to counts and measurements performed by either a

checker riding the transit vehicle along the entire route or an

automated instrument (hence, replacing the human checker).Ride check refers to counts and measurements performed by either a checker riding the transit vehicle

along the entire route or an automated instrument (hence, replacing the human checker). The ride check

contains mainly on and off passenger counts, from which one can derive the on-board passenger load for

each route segment, arrival and departure times for each stop, and sometimes item-specific surveys or

measurements (vehicle running speed, boarding by fare category, gender of passengers and baggage

size), and record farebox readings

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Common automated instrument for

ride checks, called Automated

Passenger Counter (APC)

It cannot, however, replace the checker

in counting boarding by fare category

and in surveying passengers.


Data-collection techniques (2/2)Ride check – example of main info obtained

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➢ The point check allows us to obtain the

load between two consecutive stops

➢ The ride check allow us to obtain the

entire load profile by either time or

space can be shown


Data-collection techniquesDeadhead check

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Deadhead check refers to the average vehicle running time between an arrival point on one

route and a departure point on another route. This deadheading time is required in a transit

system with interlining routes. It is measured mainly by agency cars travelling along the

shortest path (in time) between the two route end points. This shortest path varies by time of

day, day of week and type of day.

Time Time

Deadhead time


➢ On board

➢ At stop

➢ At transfer stop

➢ by mail or at phone

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Data-collection techniquesPassenger survey

Info obtained

➢ Origin and destination of travel

➢ Access and egress modes and

distances

➢ Trip purpose

➢ Routes selected on a trip

➢ Fare paid

➢ Type of payment

➢ Frequency of use by time of day

➢ Socio-economic and attitude


These surveys are usually interview-based, involving both

transit users and nonusers, in order to capture

➢ public attitudes and opinions about transit service

changes (including the impact on household location

decisions), fare changes, and transportation, traffic and

land-use projects.

The population interviews of users and non-users also

address the vital issues of potential ridership, market

segmentation, market opportunities and suggestions for new

transit initiatives.

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Data-collection techniquesPopulation survey


Data collection methods and resultant analysis and service elements (1/2)

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Ceder, A. (2015). Public Transit Planning and Operation: Modeling, Practice and Behavior, Second Edition. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group


Data collection methods and resultant analysis and service elements (2/2)

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Ceder, A. (2015). Public Transit Planning and Operation: Modeling, Practice and Behavior, Second Edition. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group


Monitoring transit fleet (AVM/AVL)

AVM/AVL system plays a key-role in transit operations and

represents the tools through that the transport operator makes

➢ management

➢ monitoring

➢ real-time location of vehicle fleet

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AVM

(Automatic Vehicle Monitoring)

Monitoring of the operational status

of vehicles by revealing and tracing

of a set of service metrics

AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location)Location system in real time of vehicle that

integrates the GPS technology with GIS.

The control room asks the on-board unit and it

communicates the position. Other times, at each

time point the on-board unit communicates the

position.


Monitoring transit fleet (AVM/AVL)

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Elaborating data on real-time position of each vehicle in space and

time

Real time

stored

Providing info to users

(through panel at stop or through

internet) to elaborate statistics on transit

functioningUsed by operators for supervising

the service

(e.g., to limit the impacts of delay

occurring during service time)


Automatic Vehicle MonitoringMain functions

1. Programming the service provided (data acquisition in the field)

2. Operational management

3. Maintenance management (detection of anomalies and

malfunctions)

4. Summary of historical operating data and report generation

5. User information

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Automatic Vehicle MonitoringComponents

➢ On-board system

➢ Control room

➢ Electronic panel system

➢ Other user information systems

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Each bus is equipped with an on-board computer with GPS location

capable of communicating with the Operations Center.

Functions

➢ Real-time location via GPS

➢ Collect data on the service

➢ Manage routes and send information to travelers on board

➢ Communicate bi-directionally with the Operations Center

➢ Communicate bi-directionally with the poles at the stop

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Automatic Vehicle Monitoringon-board system


It is composed of: AVM Server, DBMS Server (database), Monitoring

Client.

Functions

➢ To constantly follow each bus during its journey

➢ To show the localized vehicles

➢ To manage the operating program of the lines (timetables, shifts)

➢ To archive the information collected and generate reports to improve the monitoring and planning of

activities

➢ To check the regularity of the service and the operating methods

➢ To communicate in real time with the fleet and information poles to view the arrival times at the

stops

➢ To analyze the flow of bus traffic to study plans to improve urban mobility

➢ To analyze the passenger counter flows using the data received

➢ To supervise the cars in case of emergency through the on-board video surveillance system

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Automatic Vehicle MonitoringControl room (1/2)


The calculation of the significant changes on the journey times of the

vehicles

1. The single bus AVM system preloaded a service schedule (transit time in some

places)

2. If the position of the bus is different, the system calculates the difference in the

times and determines if you are early or late

3. The anomaly is reported to the operator

4. The operator can support the driver on alternative routes (chosen based on the

actual network configuration) in order to promptly realign the bus on the

roadmap and avoid disservice

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Automatic Vehicle MonitoringControl room (2/2)


They are information panels based on a display with LED matrix

technology

They communicate with the operations center via the GPRS channel

(most used or in general the 2G-4G network), and are updated in real

time by the central server without the need for operator intervention.

They include the information signs placed at the stops and the

summary boards of departure and arrival of the vehicles.

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Automatic Vehicle MonitoringElectonic panel


Automatic Vehicle Monitoring

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source: Trasporto Pubblico Locale – risorse, pianificazione, esercizio a cura di G. Corona, D. C. Festa, EGAF (pag. 735).


Dissemination of information to users

The information can be sent widely or the user can access it according

to the needs of the moment.

The information can be transmitted via

➢ On-board devices

➢ Ground devices, arranged along the infrastructure, at interchange

nodes, in service areas or at stops

➢ Web portals

➢ Applications and services on smartphones, tablets, PDAs

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On-board passengers can have access to some info such as, next stop,

progress of the route on the map, program change notices and other

news

➢ Line and destination indicators

➢ Line and destination voice announcement

➢ Next stop audiovisual system

➢ On board multimedia system (real time info on

routes, travel times, etc.)

➢ Ground information system

✓ Variable message signals

✓ Information pannels

✓ Multimedia kiosks

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Dissemination of information to usersOn-board information system


Bibliography

➢ Corona, G., Festa, D. C. (2016), eds. Trasporto Pubblico Locale –

risorse, pianificazione, esercizio, EGAF.

➢ Ceder, A. (2015). Public Transit Planning and Operation:

Modeling, Practice and Behavior, Second Edition. CRC Press,

Taylor & Francis Group.

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Documents

Transit services: gathering data from vehicle operations