Lessons Learned for CBTC Data Communications Subsystems Design and Deployment in a “Brown Field” Environment

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Fitzmaurice
Keyword(s):  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Data Communications ◽  
Wireless Data ◽  
Transit System ◽  
Field Environment ◽  
Transit Agencies

The data communications subsystem or DCS is an important element of a CBTC system which supports the wired and wireless data communications between a CBTC equipped train and the wayside elements such as zone controllers and the automatic train supervisory (ATS) system. A “brown field” environment (as opposed to “green field” environment) represents an existing transit system that is already in revenue service and is being re-signaled with a new CBTC system. Such an environment typically represent the most challenging deployment for CBTC a system as it must be installed, tested and integrated in such a manner as to not adversely impact the transit agencies’ ongoing revenue service. Usually, one of the first elements of a CBTC system to be designed and deployed is the DCS. This paper will examine some lessons learned related to the DCS design, deployment, testing and commissioning for CBTC projects in a “brown field” environment with a view to improving future CBTC projects.

Usability Testing for Rapid Fielding with Small Ns: Lessons Learned during an Army Operational Field Experiment

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (26) ◽  
pp. 1622-1626
Author(s):  
Pamela A. Savage-Knepshield
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Institutional Review Boards ◽  
Iterative Design ◽  
Field Environment ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
Usability Feedback ◽  
Survey Instrument Development

The Army's acquisition process is transforming to meet the needs of a force that must be agile, adaptive, and responsive to asymmetric threats. Advanced capabilities and technologies, which are urgently needed to enable rapid response to evolving military needs, are being developed and pushed out to troops at unprecedented rates. As a result, not all systems have undergone an iterative design process, received usability feedback from their target users, or had design support from human factors engineers to ensure that unit and Soldier considerations have been addressed. Subsequently, these systems may possess characteristics that induce high cognitive workload, fatigue, detectability, or trigger events that lead to fratricide. When human factors engineers encounter a system that has not derived these benefits, they too must become more agile, adaptive, and responsive to ensure that Soldier feedback is collected and that serious issues are identified and resolved before the system makes its way to the battlefield. Lessons learned while participating in advanced technology and experimentation programs include techniques that facilitate working with small Ns, institutional review boards, rapid survey instrument development, and the collection of qualitative feedback as well as the importance of having a “usability tool kit” available to facilitate data collection efforts in an operational field environment.

Usage, Impacts, and Benefits of Innovative Transit Pass Program

1998 ◽  
Vol 1618 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Meyer ◽  
Edward A. Beimborn
Keyword(s):  
Transit System ◽  
University Of Wisconsin ◽  
Milwaukee County ◽  
Successful Program ◽  
Pass Program ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
The University

An evaluation of an innovative transit program, UPASS, is summarized. UPASS provides unlimited use of the Milwaukee County Transit System at any time and any place and for any purpose for all students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The pass program, paid for by a special fee attached to students’ tuition, was implemented in fall 1994 and was extensively evaluated to determine its impact on ridership and other factors and to determine whether the concept has the potential for transfer to other organizations and employers. Benefits and disbenefits to transit users, nonusers, employers, and transit agencies are described. In addition, elements of a successful program are outlined.

Maintrainenance: Keeping Heavy Rail Maintenance on Track

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (7) ◽  
pp. 192-203
Author(s):  
Sreekar Shashank Boddupalli ◽  
Andrea Sherman ◽  
Joe Zerkus ◽  
Alice Grossman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Rapid Transit ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Heavy Rail

Infrastructure management is an important aspect of transportation engineering. Contrasting views have emerged on feasible best practice in asset management for various transportation modes. The differences in current practice can provide insight into best practices and lessons learned. This paper focuses on heavy rail maintenance state of practice in the United States and compares the maintenance practices, strategies, and procedures implemented by four transit agencies across the country. The objective of the paper is to provide guidance and examples for other transit agencies in the United States to meet the short-term challenges they face and provide recommendations to improve services nationwide. This paper examines rail maintenance practices at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). The paper found that out of the four agencies studied, MARTA has the highest maintenance to operations budget ratio, and most of the maintenance expenditure is on labor. WMATA found that automation of inspection improved maintenance efficiency, and BART is working toward adopting more automated processes. New York City’s MTA shows an example of the importance of clear governance in effective budgeting.

Understanding Transit Agency Perceptions about Transportation Network Companies, Shared Mobility, and Autonomous Transit: Lessons from the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (5) ◽  
pp. 95-108
Author(s):  
Mengjie Han ◽  
Matthew D. Dean ◽  
Pedro Adorno Maldonado ◽  
Parfait Masungi ◽  
Sivaramakrishnan Srinivasan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transit System ◽  
Emergent Technologies ◽  
Shared Mobility ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Transportation Network Companies

Emergent technologies like autonomous/connected vehicles and shared mobility platforms are anticipated to significantly affect various aspects of the transportation network such as safety, mobility, accessibility, environmental effects, and economics. Transit agencies play a critical role in this network by providing mobility to populations unable to drive or afford personal vehicles, and in some localities carry passengers more efficiently than other modes. As transit agencies plan for the future, uncertainty remains with how to best leverage new technologies. A survey completed by 50 transit agencies across the United States revealed similar yet different perceptions and preparations regarding transportation network companies (TNCs) and autonomous transit (AT) systems. Transit agencies believe TNC market share will grow, either minimally or rapidly (72%), within the next 5 years and have either a negative (43%) or positive (35%) impact on their transit system. Only 30% of agency boards instructed the agency to work with TNCs, despite no perceived transit union support. For AT systems, 22% of agencies are studying them, 64% believe the impacts of AT over the next 10–20 years will be positive, but fewer agencies are influenced to consider new technologies because of AT systems (38%) compared with TNCs (72%). Surprisingly, transit administration is mostly unsure about driver and transit unions’ perceptions of these technologies. In addition, a significant number of transit agencies do not believe they should play a role in ensuring TNCs are safe and equitable and that TNCs should not have to adhere to the same regulations (50%, 28% respectively).

Wireless Monitoring and Scheduling System of Urban Water Supply Network

2011 ◽  
Vol 295-297 ◽  
pp. 2442-2445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yu ◽  
Lu Qin Luo ◽  
Da Yong Lv
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Data Transmission ◽  
Data Communications ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Supply Network ◽  
Urban Water Supply ◽  
Wireless Data ◽  
Water Supply Network ◽  
Scheduling System ◽  
Wireless Monitoring

Currently, data communications used in the monitoring and scheduling system of urban water supply network can be simply divided into wireless and wired. While the wireless data communications with network flexibility, less investment, easy maintenance, cost-effective advantages. Therefore, the wireless data communications has become a major data transmission in urban water supply scheduling. The wireless transmission of state parameters in urban water supply pipe network was studied in this paper. This paper presents a wireless monitoring and scheduling scheme based on the short message transmission technology in urban water supply network. It introduced the hardware components of the system, and wireless data transmission software.

scholarly journals Can Location Value Capture Pay for Transit? Organizational Challenges of Transforming Theory into Practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 743-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Salon ◽  
Elliott Sclar ◽  
Richard Barone
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Change ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Organizational Mission ◽  
Value Capture ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Organizational Challenges ◽  
Institutional Authority ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Acute Crisis

Successful public transit systems increase the value of locations they serve. Capturing this location value to help fund transit is often sensible, but challenging. This article defines location value capture and synthesizes lessons learned from six European and North American transit agencies that have experience with location value capture funding. The opportunities for and barriers to implementing location value capture fall into three categories: agency institutional authority, agency organizational mission, and public support for transit. When any of these factors is incompatible with a location value capture strategy, implementation becomes difficult. In four of the cases studied, dramatic institutional change was critical for success. In five cases, acute crisis was a catalyst for institutional change, value capture implementation, or both. Using value capture strategies to fund transit requires practitioners to both understand agency organizational constraints and view transit agencies as institutions that can transform in response to changing situations.

Evaluating Real-Time Bus Arrival Information Systems

2000 ◽  
Vol 1731 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabi G. Mishalani ◽  
Sungjoon Lee ◽  
Mark R. McCord
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Transit System ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Bus Stops ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Time Systems ◽  
Time Information

Real-time transit passenger information systems are intended to improve the level of service provided by transit agencies. For example, passengers are given real-time information on the expected arrival times of buses on various routes at bus stops. These real-time systems reflect emerging applications in public transit, and methods to evaluate their benefits are limited. An evaluation method is presented that focuses on the potential benefits of bus arrival information systems to passengers waiting at bus stops. Passenger arrivals and transit bus operations are modeled as a stochastic system in which the operator uses real-time bus location data to provide bus arrival-time information that maximizes passengers' utilities. Simulation results reveal the nature of the dependence of system benefits on the type of real-time data available to the operator and the bus operations characteristics. An application to an existing bus transit system demonstrates the feasibility of the developed method and its role in assessing the value of real-time bus arrival information systems to passengers.

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