The Application of Information Technologies to Public Transportation

This thesis investigates the potential uses of information technologies for transit applications; specifically to the real-time functions of operations monitoring and control and passenger information. To an agency that is currently considering technology to improve performance, this thesis guides the agency through the many issues that should be addressed. The research first investigated the information needs of these two functions, the relative value of these types of information and the potential for information technologies to meet these information needs. It was found that for both functions, vehicle location information is essential, and other types of information such as passenger loads, service disruption information and vehicle status might also be useful. Information technologies have the potential to gather and deliver this information quickly and on a system-wide basis. The thesis then investigated the wide range of technologies currently available and identified Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems as the ones which best satisfies these functions' needs. AVL systems consists of vehicle location, communications, hardware and software, and human systems, and there are many issues that need to be resolved when choosing AVL system technology. Case studies of three agencies currently implementing information technologies revealed several benefits of AVL systems. For AVL systems that have operations monitoring and control functionalities, the real-time benefits included better schedule adherence, increased safety and security, the potential for increased supervisory efficiency and the potential for improved work environments. The real-time benefits of passenger information systems included limited travel and wait time savings, improved passenger perceptions and a willingness on the passenger's part to pay a premium for passenger information. The costs for AVL systems can be categorized into development costs, capital costs and ongoing operating costs. Before these systems are implemented, however, agencies have to identify the best use for information technologies and this thesis developed a framework that can help structure the agency's selection of an appropriate information technology. Thesis Supervisor: Nigel H. M. Wilson Title: Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering