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TCRP A-06 [Completed]
Computerized Paratransit Dispatching
| Project Data |
| Funds: |
$200,000 |
| Research Agency: |
SYSTAN, Inc. |
| Principal Investigator: |
Roy Lave |
| Effective Date: |
2/22/1994 |
| Completion Date: |
7/20/1996 |
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The results of this study will be of interest to agencies engaged in managing and operating demand-responsive transit (DRT) services. The study will assist DRT providers with assessment of software needs and procurement of software to meet those needs. The research results are written to be useful to readers at all levels of computer literacy and to be applicable to DRT systems of various configurations and sizes.
Under TCRP Project A-6, Software Requirements for Demand-Responsive Transit, research was undertaken by a team headed by Systan, Inc., to specify requirements for the development of future computer software to assist in the management and operation of demand-responsive transportation systems. To achieve the project objectives, the researchers (1) conducted a comprehensive review of the literature and current practice related to computerization of DRT systems; (2) reviewed and summarized federal legislation and regulations that directly affect DRT systems; (3) prepared statements of needs and objectives for automating the management and operations functions of DRT systems; (4) developed software specifications for each of the functions; and (5) documented advance technology features.
TCRP Report No. 18, "A Handbook for Acquiring Demand-Responsive Transit Software," will assist demand-responsive providers in their decisions about automating administrative and operating functions and in procuring software that meets the specifications. The handbook provides a history of DRT service and describes how DRT works. It also discusses DRT software, including a description of the existing state of the art based on a survey of DRT providers and experts in the field. A section on computer hardware is included for those who need a tutorial in order to use the handbook.
The handbook is one of three products developed under this project. The second product is a report directed at software developers. It documents the needs of DRT providers and translates those needs into guidelines that should ensure the development of useful software. A third product, the final report, documents the research results of the project and should be of interest to researchers in the field. Both reports are unpublished, but are available on loan. TCRP Report 18 is also available in portable document format (PDF). (A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader is available at https://www.adobe.com.) Double-click on the link below to access the report.
TCRP Report No. 18
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