Ecolane DRT 2007 APTA Presentation

8/14/2019 Ecolane DRT 2007 APTA Presentation

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Software for Paratransit Within and Beyond the ADA

The Automation of Paratransit

Demand Response Transportation ACase Study from Helsinki, Finland

2007 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference

Moderator: David Rishel Sami Pykk, CEO, Ecolane

Ryan Larsen, Technology Consultant, Ecolane


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The Automation of Paratransit

Demand Response Transportation ACase Study from Helsinki, Finland

Ryan LarsenEcolane

Technology Consultant


Sami Pykk

Ecolane

CEO


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Automation of DRT in Helsinki

A Little History


Centralized call center provider

Proprietary company schedulingtechnology waterline repair

scheduling software

Quality of service issues

Goal- End-to-end scheduling


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A Little History


Decentralized Call Center

TDC Song selected as the broker

Multiple providers

Ecolane selected as end-to-endscheduling solution


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A Little History


Transition 12/31/05

Reservations process

Scheduling process

Prior to day of service End of day to start of service next day

Day of service


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Scheduling Trips to a Vehicle


Scheduling algorithm constantly

looking for most efficient vehicle Trips sent to the MDT for delivery

Driver must respond within specified

time or next vehicle is selected


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Use of MDTs


Information sent and received from

Java application on unit (GPS enabled)


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Statistics


600 Sq Miles

1 million population

1 in 4 in Finland live in Helsinki area

Extensive lakes and waterways toschedule around


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Statistics


Up to 2000 scheduled trips/day

+/- 20 for ambulatory; +/- 10 for W/C

30% trips scheduled 1 hour or less

1 supervisor per shift No Dispatchers or schedulers


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Statistics


2.57 RPH (based on NTD)

0.5% No-shows

> 8% Cancellations

96% + OTP 40% of trips shared ride


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Advanced Technologies


Fixed Route itinerary look-ups within

DRT scheduling application Feeder-to-fixed schedule look-ups

Web based self service scheduling

MDTs on all vehicles 2 Way Comm.


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Google Earth to enhance customer

service and driver training Real time vehicle monitoring

Tie into Google Transit


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Google Earth Look-ups


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Real Time Vehicle Monitoring



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Use of Linux as platform

MySQL as OS Huge $$$ savings

Linux Stability Total

unplanned downtime

of 15 minutes in 16 months (24x7x365)


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Lessons Learned


3-D Approach: Data, Dispatch, Drivers

Ability to make changes to the servicein a fast paced environment

Tightening down on system issues

Avoid mid-winter changes in cold

weather climate


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Application in the US


What are areas of greatest concern forparatransit scheduling and dispatch?

What prevents the US market fromscheduling service in a real time

environment? What are aspects that you see as most

transferable to the US?


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Rocket Scientists Need Not Apply!


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Contact us


Ryan Larsen

[email protected]

Come visit us at the trade show in

booth 206

Ecolane DRT 2007 APTA Presentation

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