OTTAR is designed to provide an operator with appropriate real time information about their bussing operations. In context a medium size operator runs more that 1,000 trips every day. Data is reported from every bus every 5 seconds. This data represented as coloured dots moving around on a map can be quite overwhelming or noisy, and when it is considered, that generally speaking, in excess of 90% of trips run on time or within the Key Performance Indicator a huge amount of information is published which is not required.
The challenge for the operator is to understand which trips and where in the trip the bus is not running on time, so that they can take immediate remedial action.
OTTAR in Operation
OTTAR is a web based application that delivers data every 15 seconds into six panes arranged in a two row by three column matrix.
Each of the columns show data for Start Mid and End for a trip that is running.
The top row shows data for trips that are running within a defined set of parameters.
The bottom row is setup like a watch list, accordingly, trip data only appears in the watch list when a trip is operating outside OTR parameters.
The effect of this construct is the Operator immediately knows which trips are operating in a delinquent manner and the KPI they are breaching. Late or early at Start, Mid or End.
OTTAR understands the Operators Schedule for the day. A Scheduled is defined by a set of Shifts. Each Shift is a collection of timetabled trips. Each driver knows which Shift they are running for the day. The first thing they do when they get into the bus they are driving, is sign on and select the correct shift.
OTTAR also understands if the bus driver has selected the correct Shift and the correct trip for the time of day. It also knows if they have confirmed the trip at the start and ended the trip at the end. All of which is crucial to OTR and Tracking.
All of the raw data that OTTAR uses comes from a system called GTFS - Real-time or GTFS-R. GTFS-R is a global standard used by 174 transit operators worldwide and is the method transit agencies inform the travelling public about the ontime running status of every trip by every operator in the entire network.
OTTAR and Tracked Trips
On a daily basis OTTAR databases all of the data on the trips it has seen the day before.
This data can be used to provide tracking information about those trips that were not “seen” by PTIPS. This does happen and is relevant when the KPI for tracked trips is 99% of scheduled trips must be tracked.
OTTAR Instant Mapping
This allows the operator to click on a trip and be taken to the precise location of the bus. It will show the path the bus has to take and where it’s next measured stop is.