GM Memo No. 07-277 - AC Transit

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GM Memo No. 07-277 Subject: Report on Status of SATCOM system Date: November 14, 2007 Page 2 of 6 Systems. Using their expertise in Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology, they developed tracking systems for public transportation systems. AC Transit was one of the early clients for this technology, and called its system SATCOM, short for Satellite Communications. The system that the District purchased from Orbital is designed to provide: a radio system emergency alarm function, in case of emergencies real time vehicle location information two-way messaging computerized incident reporting forms vehicle status for route and schedule adherence historical data automatic vehicle announcements automatic passenger counting Status of Major Features Radio Functions: The District first began using SATCOM in 2000. The first function that was used was the radio system, which has three levels of communication with Central Dispatch (CD) based on the urgency of the call. For routine business, an operator pushes the “Request to Talk” button, and alerts CD that he/she wishes to speak to them. For situations involving danger, or the threat of danger, operators are instructed to push the Priority Request-to-Talk (PRTT) button. When that button is pressed, CD is alerted that there is something of a serious nature occurring, and that the operator needs to speak to a dispatcher immediately. In emergency situations, defined as whenever the operator believes his/her life or the lives of people on the bus are threatened, operators are trained to activate the Emergency Alarm (EA) system, one of the most critical functions of the new radio system. When the system is activated, one-way communication is established so that CD can monitor the situation on the bus. A GPS system on the bus allows CD staff to determine the bus location and dispatch appropriate emergency personnel. When the threat is over, operators are trained to notify CD and advise them of the status of the situation. The EA feature is used in emergency situations only, and is critical to improving safety for our operators and customers alike. Computerized Incident Reporting – The District uses the incident reporting features of the SATCOM system on a regular basis. At CD, the dispatchers enter information on:
GM Memo No. 07-277 Subject: Report on Status of SATCOM system Date: November 14, 2007 Page 3 of 6 incidents and accidents security-related events outlates, service cancellations, and delays of service detours extra service roadcalls This information is used by the relevant District departments to track information they need. For years, the Maintenance Department relies heavily on the roadcall information, and uses it to monitor miles between roadcalls at each division and Districtwide, as well as to monitor trends in the type of roadcalls. Route and Schedule Adherence Information: The District’s scheduling information from the HASTUS scheduling system is linked to the SATCOM system to provide information on route and schedule adherence. In fact, the District and Orbital had a cost-sharing agreement to procure the HASTUS system, because the previous scheduling system was not compatible with the Orbital system. The schedule and route adherence information is used on a real-time basis at Central Dispatch, and historical information is used to develop more accurate schedules for routes. The District’s consultant, TMD, used the SATCOM data extensively in developing new schedules for many routes in the past few years that better matched actual running times. In most cases, this has resulted in adding time to schedules that consistently ran late. This data has proven to be an invaluable tool in developing better schedules. Advanced Functions and Applications to Other Systems: The Orbital system is at the core of other functions and systems that will further enhance system reliability and efficiency, as well as customer services. Already, the District has implemented Automatic Vehicle Announcements (AVA) on the 1, 1R, 72, 72R, and 51 lines. Two new routes will be added soon: the 57 and 40 lines. After that, the District will continue rolling out the AVA on the remainder of the trunk routes, followed by the rest of the lines. These automatic announcements free up the operators from having to orally announce the stops and are also beneficial to the customers. Additional funding was budgeted over the next two years to roll out AVA on all of the District’s routes. The Orbital data is also used currently with the NextBus system to predict bus arrivals. A detailed report on the status of the NextBus system will be provided to the Operations Committee next month, as will a report on the potential use of Orbital Automatic Passenger Counters. Challenges of the System: Although the District is successfully using the SATCOM radio function and other high priority functions of the Orbital system, staff realizes that the District is not using the system to its highest potential. One example of the challenges that the District faces with the system has to do with operator log-ons. To
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GM Memo No. 07-277 - AC Transit

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