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AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATION TECHNOLOGY: APPLICATIONS FOR BUSES by Antoneta Xaverina Lobo A thesis submitted to the University of London for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Centre for Transport Studies January 1997 University College London ProQuest Number: 10055854 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest. ProQuest 10055854 Published by ProQuest LLC(2016). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 ABSTRACT A combination of technological advances in systems which track buses and the continuing fall in prices of computing hardware has led to Automatic Vehicle Location (AYL) systems becoming an attractive, affordable proposition for many bus operators. Local authorities are also showing a great deal of interest in this technology since AYL data can be used to drive systems which provide real-time passenger information at bus stops (which are perceived to be a potential source of increasing patronage and also have a high on-street profile). However AYL technology is still relatively new to the bus industry and little research has been carried out as to the potential benefits of these systems with the result that many systems have been bought ‘off-the-shelf without consideration as to whether the system could be better with re-specification. Therefore guidelines for system specification have been produced as part of this research as a result of a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the various AYL technologies. Although real-time AYL data is being utilised successfully in this country, little attention has been given to the benefits of using non real-time data. This research aims to demonstrate the potential use of non real-time AYL data, such as to identify sections of a bus route which would benefit most from bus priority measures, estimate the passenger arrival rate at stops (when used in conjunction with an on-board patronage survey), improve scheduling and compile punctuality statistics. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to all of those who assisted me in many ways in the development of this research. First, I would like to thank my supervisor Prof Roger Mackett for his advice and guidance throughout the period of research. I am also grateful to Dr Nick Tyler who provided me with many useful references and helpful discussions. I gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance given by Stephen Balogh and other members of London Transport Buses’ Countdown Team for other associated information. I would also like to extend my thanks to Michael Steward of Centre West London Buses Ltd. The helpful cooperation of the Route 18 drivers during the survey undertaken as part of this work is also greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Michael Smith (University of Newcastle upon Tyne), Bill Barker (Tyne and Wear PTE), Huw Barrington (Armchair Passenger Transport Co. Ltd), Andrew Blackburn (Lumiplan SA, France), Lynda Burns (Surrey County Council), Peter Cook (GEC-Marconi Communications), Peter Downs (Hampshire County Council), Colin Green (Suffolk County Council), Dave Henderson (MTL London), Graham Horn (Reading Buses), Chris Lane (CENTRO), Roy Lowe (PMT Ltd), Sean Marshall (Nottinghamshire County Council), Paul Matthews (Go-Ahead Group North East), Declan McCourt (MTL London), Joe McGrath (Strathclyde PTE), Tony Pettitt (Babtie Group), Gordon Slater (Peek Traffic), Ivan Turczak (Merseytravel) and Walter Whalley (Lancashire County Council) for kindly providing me with information. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council who funded my research studentship, the UCL Graduate School who funded my visits to conferences and to thank all the members of the Centre for Transport Studies who have encouraged me in my work. I am especially grateful for the advice and encouragement provided by Sergio Chiquetto in the numerous discussions we had, Ian Skinner, Alan Morrison, John Grater and Marion Edwards. On a more personal note, I would like to thank my parents for always being there for me. And finally, I would like to thank Tim Horbury for kindly reproducing Figures 2.1, 2.2, 4.7 and 4.22 for me and for his advice and invaluable support and encouragement. This thesis is dedicated to him. CONTENTS ABSTRACT................................................................................................................ 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................... 2 1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 11 1.1 The issues.......................................................................................................... 12 1.2 O bjectives.......................................................................................................... 15 1.3 Structure of thesis............................................................................................. 16 1.4 Sum m ary ............................................................................................................ 16 2 AVL SYSTEMS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS .................................................. 17 2.1 Dead reckoning ................................................................................................ 18 2.2 Beacon-based systems ..................................................................................... 21 2.2.1 Intelligent buses ........................................................................ 22 2.2.2 Intelligent beacons ...................................................................... 23 2.3 Radio triangulation........................................................................................... 24 2.3.1 D atatrak ........................................................................................ 25 2.3.2 CURSOR ..................................................................................... 25 2.4 Global Positioning System (G PS) ................................................................. 27 2.5 Summary of AVL technologies .................................................................... 31 2.6 Compatibility between systems ...................................................................... 33 2.7 Proposed AVL technologies........................................................................... 34 2.7.1 Image Processing ......................................................................... 34 2.7.2 Daisy-chaining information from stops .............................. 34 2.7.3 Fare stage data AVL ................................................................. 35 2.8 Communications................................................................................................ 36 2.8.1 Communication between the bus and control centre 36 2.8.2 Communication between the control centre and bus stop d isp la y .......................................................................................... 39 2.9 Error reduction techniques.............................................................................. 40 2.10 Real-time applications of AVL systems....................................................... 41 2.10.1 Bus operational control ............................................................ 41 2.10.2 Real-time passenger information............................................. 47 2.10.3 Real-time bus priority at signalised junctions ...................... 47 3 2.10.4 In-cab driver displays................................................................. 48 2.10.5 Coordination of services............................................................ 49 2.10.6 Update fare stages...................................................................... 50 2.11 Non real-time applications of AVL systems................................................ 50 2.12 Summary ............................................................................................................. 52 3 THE BUS ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................. 53 3.1 P olitical............................................................................................................... 54 3.1.1 D eregulation................................................................................ 54 3.1.2 Privatisation ................................................................................ 57 3.2 Legal requirements........................................................................................... 58 3.3 Bus operational c o n tro l................................................................................... 59 3.4 Bus behaviour ................................................................................................... 63 3.4.1 Analytical models ...................................................................... 64 3.4.2 Simulation models...................................................................... 67 3.5 Patronage estimation.......................................................................................