By Richard Tackett Attending the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) EXPO in 2013 proved to be extremely fortuitous for the three owners of Brookfield, CT, tour bus operator Coach Tours. Ira Steinberg, Michael Neustadt and Kelli Simmons’ growing company had been managing reservations and tour quotes by handwritten bookkeeping and were searching for a solution to […]
Travelers need current information communication Bus passengers need to know the current status of their trip information- when their bus will arrive at their stop/depot, what stops and connections are on their route, unexpected delays or emergencies due to traffic, weather, mechanical issues, accidents, etc. A passenger information system is no longer just a “nice […]
By Paola Realpozo Until recently, transmitting operational data from vehicles to a central database was a matter of timing and necessity – buses leave for the day, collect data through various onboard sensors and applications, then offload the data to a back-office server upon returning to the garage via the local Wi-Fi network, when available. […]
Avail Technologies, State College, PA, is an intelligent transportation systems (ITS) solutions provider for public transit operators in the United States, specializing in CAD/AVL solutions for fixed route and paratransit. In an interview with BUSRide, Kiel Knisely, fixed-end software development lead at Avail Technologies, answered questions about data warehousing in public transportation. Please […]
By Paola Realpozo As the interest and demand for more onboard applications is growing, so is the need for higher bandwidth data requirements. There is a significant focus on augmenting the number of applications and services onboard vehicles to provide increased safety, information, and connectivity to passengers, as well as real-time monitoring systems. When bus […]
By Cliff Anderson Mass transit passengers are busier and more technologically aware than ever. Their expectations for public transportation agencies to reliably and consistently get them where they need to be, when they need to be there, without hassle, continue to increase. To enable a smooth trip, a passenger infotainment system is a critical communication […]
By Steven Winnefeld The technology of 360° cameras, otherwise known as omnidirectional cameras, has been rapidly evolving over the past few years. The applications for this technology are readily apparent, coming quickly into use in photography, mapping streets and video conferences. Now this technology has matured, leading to 360° cameras with smaller, more compact enclosures […]
By Paola Realpozo As emerging, cloud-based technologies continue to enable higher levels of safety for bus drivers and passengers, it’s time for transit and coach operators to step up with “always-on” mobile broadband service to further enhance the connected bus. Here are several safety-related reasons to choose a connected bus. Today’s technology helps provide real-time […]
By Richard Tackett The Rapid operates fixed route, demand-response and car and vanpooling programs among other services in the Grand Rapids, MI, area. Although the relationship between the agency and Avail Technologies isn’t young, it’s managing to yield its most incredible results yet. Initial contact Avail Technologies, State College, PA, began work with The Rapid […]
Open architecture and system integration Avail Technologies, State College, PA, is an intelligent transportation systems (ITS) solutions provider for transit operators in the United States, specializing in CAD/AVL solutions for fixed route and paratransit. In an interview with BUSRide, Rick Spangler, chief technology officer at Avail Technologies, answers a few critical questions about open architecture […]