MOBILEstatistics

In order to be able to meet the users’ requirements in the best way possible, INIT has conducted a customer survey. The result was that key performance indicators like punctuality, run time and passenger volume are just as important as service journeys and data completeness. Analysing by route and service journey is preferred. The most popular requests are the map view and the speedometer panels. Nevertheless, tabular displays continue to play an important role, especially in Europe. The results obtained from this survey are implemented in the new web-based statistics application MOBILEstatistics.

The MOBILEstatistics start page gives an overview of transportation companies’ operational status. For preselected indicators like punctuality or network coverage, key performance indicators are displayed as percentage values. This allows an immediate evaluation of the rendered service quality. Also the “traffic light” colour code of the speedometer panels provides instant information. Each key performance indicator delivers access to more detailed diagrams which split the values in predefined groups like time of day, or early, punctual and delayed stop departure events. A click on one of these diagrams opens a list with all service journeys assigned to this group. This is helpful for analysing ongoing problems.

All key performance indicators defined by the user are included in the overall quality value. The individual key performance indicators are weighted in such a way that important areas like punctuality or running time have a bigger impact on results than the less important key performance indicators like pass through or dwell times. The user has the option to set up an automated e-mail notification if any of the quality figures drops below a critical threshold. In addition, the key performance indicators can be displayed not only daily but also weekly, monthly or annually.

Another highlight of the new user interface is the integrated GIS data information module. Displaying data on a map provides an ideal geographical reference. The display is easily manageable and flexible and allows users to set the events displayed. For instance: planned stops, incident stops, status messages, dispatch measures, traffic signal priority trigger points and many others. The colour-coded display of events (heat map) is of particular value when checking the radio coverage.

A major advantage of the new user interface is that functions that formerly needed third party software like Crystal Reports are now integrated. The application itself now offers many additional reports and tables, e.g. vehicle block list or block list. Adding extra columns (information) is also possible for most of the tables.

MOBILEstatistics allows the generation of interactive reports with user specific settings (aggregation, grouping, filters, calculation of values or creation of diagrams). Data can be evaluated automatically on a regular basis and the results can be distributed via email. Export to other programmes like MS Excel is also possible. Another innovative feature in the new web statistics software is the weather display which provides daily weather information in various time ranges.

Data quality and data completeness play an important role, too. The recording of the statistical data onboard the vehicle has been adjusted so that gaps are easily recognised and displayed in the vehicle list. In addition, MOBILEstatistics can import the real-time data from the ITCS (MOBILEflashback). The daily operational data is automatically imported into the MOBILEstatistics database on a nightly basis by a system service. Each day, the data imported from the previous day is replaced by the data recorded onboard the vehicle. In case the vehicle data has not yet been imported, the ITCS data remains unchanged. Thus it is shown which information is missing.

With the assistance of MOBILEstatistics, transportation companies can generate long-term trend analyses and evaluate their daily operation with regard to efficiency, quality of services, performance and growth. INIT is continuously expanding the range of functions in MOBILEstatistics. The goal is to keep importing data from various sources and to combine that data in automatically performed analyses. The handling of the application however should remain intuitive and simple.