Computer Aided Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Location System

The Vendor is required to provide a turnkey CAD/AVL (Computer-Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location) system is a comprehensive, ready-to-use transit management solution provided by a single vendor.
- Management Software
• Utilize GPS to provide automatic vehicle location (AVL) in conjunction with mapping
• Graphic user interface (GUI) map display viewable through various devices (smartphone, smart TV, kiosk, pc, etc.)
• Map display shall clearly display vehicle icon and location. Map shall include the entire agency service area. Map shall have the ability to expand into additional communities if service expands. Further layered information shall include bus route, streets, and highways, points of interest, time points, bus stops, run, operator id, vehicle id and speed. Include ability to limit display of this information according to permissions or map version. For example, the public map would not display operator name, etc., but may include mobility device securement equipment details or securement area configurations specific to each individual bus. Map display features shall include zoom in or out, pan in any direction and point-and click on features and vehicles to retrieve information. The map should be expandable to full screen view.
• AVL and mapping will include all fixed-routes and event based routes.
• AVL location data will begin when the ignition is turned on and continue reporting until the ignition is turned off. Location of vehicles with no assigned route will also be tracked and visible in mapping for the private transit system site.
• Dispatcher’s GUI real-time display will provide bus arrival times at each bus stop based on average speed of the bus and traffic impacts. The vehicle icon should clearly indicate vehicle id, route, directional status, arrival time, and departure time.
• Map will display last known position on any unit suffering loss of GPS signal and shall visually display and provide an alert to show a vehicle that is not in communication.
• Map will clearly mark each route and vehicle when more than one travels on the same street segment.
- Website and Bus Tracking App
• Users with the ability to select routes or areas of interest on map and view bus location.
• Static and real-time arrival estimates by bus stop
• Ability for agency logo/graphics to website
• A module allowing content to be provided on agency website.
• Ability to differentiate estimated arrival times for inbound and outbound stops along a specific route.
• Continuous updates to the web page without the user being required to refresh.
• Returning customers with route remembrance for previous visits
• Ability for riders to subscribe to a notification service, select one or multiple routes and receive notifications when next bus is arriving.
• Ability to display and push service alerts or other messages to riders.
• System shall provide a module that allows Trip planner and other content to be provided on Customer’s own website.
• System shall continuously update the web page (whenever a new estimated time of arrival (ETA) is determined, bus is added/removed, etc.), without the user being required to refresh the webpage.
- Automated Voice Announcements (AVA)
• Announcements must be able to be made at a predetermined distance from a bus stop. Announcements shall be paused while a bus operates off-route.
• Use of GPS vehicle location data and GPS geo fences/trigger zones to determine announcement timing. The trigger zone shall use default values or allow agency to over-write by route and/or individual location.
• The system shall detect reacquisition of the route, at any point along the route, and automatically determine and announce the next valid bus stop or other designated location.
• A configuration utility that allows agency the ability to fine tune announcements. This includes creation and selection of which bus stops and routes are announced; edit of current stop announcements by turning ‘off’ or ‘on’; creation of custom trigger zones to identify bus stop locations and other trigger locations; and configure pivot points that trigger a change to the destination sign.
• When a new route or stop is created in the web portal, CAD/AVL system shall provide a digitized voice synthesizer tool or professionally recorded audio announcements for locations selected for announcement. If recorded audio is provided by vendor, changes or additions to audio files must be provided for the life of the contract and available within 2 business days of agency request.
• Audio announcements shall be played in English and up to two additional languages (e.g., Spanish And Hmong)
• In addition to the next stop announcements, the annunciation system shall be capable of making vehicle operator-initiated announcements. The operator can select from a list of pre-compiled announcements via the MDT.
• Vehicle operator use of the PA system shall override any automated announcements.
• Provide scrolling text data (route name & number, stop name for designated stop and date & time) to the interior led sign or digital onboard displays.