TransLink Website upgrade

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/news-and-updates/website-upgrade

TransLink Website upgrade

We're upgrading our website. From Tuesday 8 October, we'll be using a new content management system (CMS) to bring the TransLink website to you. We don't expect the website to be unavailable at anytime.

This change will allow us to provide faster updates and offer new features for online public transport information.

As a result of the upgrade, you might notice some small changes, such as:

    Updated URLs
    Some URLs will be changing so you might have to update your bookmarks.
    Promotions
    The promotions on the front page will rotate every few seconds. You can manually view the current promotions using the forward and back controls.
    go card locations
    go card retailer locations has been upgraded to use Google Places. You can enter your address, suburb, post code or landmark, or use the map to find nearby go card locations.

The website is supported 24/7 and hosted in Australia, meaning superior server up-time and download performance. Our privacy policy has not changed as a result of this move.

If you notice any issues with our website please use the feedback form and let us know.

[techblitz]

New web layouts for the online timetables.
Looks intersting the way they have included all the stops and an approxamate location where the bus is.

[bcasey]

New web layouts for the online timetables.
Looks intersting the way they have included all the stops and an approxamate location where the bus is.

I'm pretty sure the crossed out times for services currently in progress is just based on the scheduled timetable, rather than any actual real-time information on where the bus is. Most of the buses in Brisbane do not have real-time tracking in them as of yet, apart from the cityglider and the logan buses.

[techblitz]

New web layouts for the online timetables.
Looks intersting the way they have included all the stops and an approxamate location where the bus is.

I'm pretty sure the crossed out times for services currently in progress is just based on the scheduled timetable, rather than any actual real-time information on where the bus is. Most of the buses in Brisbane do not have real-time tracking in them as of yet, apart from the cityglider and the logan buses.

yep...could potentially confuse passengers new to the route....giving the false impression that the bus has already passed that stop.
eg yesterday a lot of the hourly inbounds were late due to the cricket...ultimately late with their outbound services yet the journey planner stated that the bus should has passed the crossed out stops...when infact they had not...
this issue will happen again today with up to 30-40 minute delays on inbound routes from 5-7pm...

Perhaps TL have implemented this new layout for a future upgrade of real time info?

[Gazza]

If you were relying on Journey Planner info and were new to the route, you wouldn't be making decisions based around the off chance you might snag a bus running late, so why would somebody get confused?

Eg if I saw the bus left 5 mins ago, I wouldn't even try for that one, id go for the next.

[bcasey]

Perhaps TL have implemented this new layout for a future upgrade of real time info?

Quite possibly. Translink are definitely looking to provide real-time information, as part of the Premier's Open Data initiative, but from what I have heard at the Open Data Mixer earlier this year, the tracking system that they are using in the Cityglider and Clarks buses is quite expensive. Given the current political and economic climate, and the fact that this equipment would need to be installed on the several thousand buses that serve SEQ (which involves several bus companies, including BT), you can see that it is definitely a significant undertaking, and probably will take a while to be completed.

[techblitz]

Perhaps TL have implemented this new layout for a future upgrade of real time info?

Quite possibly. Translink are definitely looking to provide real-time information, as part of the Premier's Open Data initiative, but from what I have heard at the Open Data Mixer earlier this year, the tracking system that they are using in the Cityglider and Clarks buses is quite expensive. Given the current political and economic climate, and the fact that this equipment would need to be installed on the several thousand buses that serve SEQ (which involves several bus companies, including BT), you can see that it is definitely a significant undertaking, and probably will take a while to be completed.

hooking the bus gps locators into the web site would be fairly straight forward with the right server/client side scripting. Then the crossed out stops serve their `proper` purpose 

[bcasey]

hooking the bus gps locators into the web site would be fairly straight forward with the right server/client side scripting. Then the crossed out stops serve their `proper` purpose 

I don't really know enough about what is available in the buses themselves, whether they have GPS locators built in or not. The go-card readers have some kind of GPS to allow them to know which stop they are near to and thus which zone they are in, but I don't think the location from the reader is available to other devices in the bus.

There is also the question of how does that information then get transmitted back to the control centre. The obvious answer is some kind of 3g/4g communication, but from what I understand, the go-card technology that is currently being used in SEQ does not have that capability, probably because it is relatively old.

Finally, you also need to be able to match the vehicle and its location to the service it is currently on. Perferably that would require using the route information that the driver enters in to get the exterior displays to work, and matching it to the GPS device, but again, I don't really know anything about the technology they have available in the buses currently being used, and whether this information is integrated together.

It might sound straight-forward in theory to us, but when you have different bus companies, with varying levels of technology onboard the buses, in practice, it is quite a complicated thing to do.

Also, while GPS is great for the vast majority of a bus journey, it is somewhat limited in certain places where the satellites are obstructed, like tunnels, so it would require another form of locating the buses within these areas. Its not impossible to do this, but more complicated in practise. At the Translink Data Showcase, the company that is providing the solution they have on the Cityglider and Clark's buses had a display of what their technology was providing to Translink. They explained that the system they provide uses dead reckoning to track the vehicle's position, speed and direction.

[SurfRail]

The system should largely pay for itself through efficiencies in optimising the timetables to match actual conditions.  Already working for Logan.

[bcasey]

The system should largely pay for itself through efficiencies in optimising the timetables to match actual conditions.  Already working for Logan.

I definitely agree with you. Real-time tracking data has many uses, including improving the reliability and efficiency of the network, as well as providing better information to passengers.

I imagine the issue is trying to convince the people in control of the money that it is a good investment.

[#Metro]

It's not a good investment. It should not be that expensive at all.

What people could do is develop an app on their phone. When they get on a bus, they select the bus number and bus loading. Hit enter. Their phone broadcasts their GPS location for the journey which then is plotted on to google maps where everyone else can see the data. When they're done. logout.

[bcasey]

It's not a good investment. It should not be that expensive at all.

What people could do is develop an app on their phone. When they get on a bus, they select the bus number and bus loading. Hit enter. Their phone broadcasts their GPS location for the journey which then is plotted on to google maps where everyone else can see the data. When they're done. logout.

shhh, that may or may not have been the jist of one of the ideas that our group submitted to the Premier's Open Data Awards  

In all seriousness though, while the crowd-sourcing approach is very cheap (cost of developing the app and back-end, plus cost of buying and maintaining the server to collect, filter, and store the data, and compute and release tracking information), it does also have some inherent weaknesses as well, compared to the approach that Translink is currently using in the cityglider and clark's buses. I won't go into them here, but they are pretty obvious once you think about it for a bit.

I wouldn't be surprised though if Google or some other company has already thought of this approach, and developed apps for this overseas. Google already does something similar to calculate travel time on roads.

[#Metro]

No, it is dead easy.

Get the cheapest, crappest phone humanly possible that will run the app. Disable all other functions.

Superglue it to the bus dashboard. The cost would be like $50 - $100 per phone. http://www.everbuying.com/product485281.html?gclid=CKOUjMTm97oCFcFdpQoduBcAVg

If TransLink put in bulk order it could probably get mass discount as well.

Get the BUS DRIVER to log in at the start of the run and broadcast the location of the bus.
When the driver is done on the run, log out.

Why re-invent the wheel?

[SurfRail]

Gluing a phone to the dash doesn't provide onboard information, doesn't provide a telematics suite which can monitor things like faults and fuel consumption, doesn't create a simple way of getting duress alarms to drivers, doesn't allow for communications between the bus and depot systems etc.

TripTracker is a very sensible and cost effective way of doing all of this.

[Gazza]

The cost would be like $50....per phone

Don't forget if you were using phones, you'd be paying that on a monthly basis in data charges for each handset.

One other benefit of Trip Tracker is the way it can assist the visually impaired, though the real time announcements of stops on board buses.

[#Metro]

Gluing a phone to the dash doesn't provide onboard information, doesn't provide a telematics suite which can monitor things like faults and fuel consumption, doesn't create a simple way of getting duress alarms to drivers, doesn't allow for communications between the bus and depot systems etc.

TripTracker is a very sensible and cost effective way of doing all of this.

Like people have said, the current system is unlikely to be rolled out across the network because the price is so high the idea is simply priced out of existence and the bus will thus carry nothing on it.

How does Melbourne manage to track their trams etc? BCC has induction loops in the street at traffic lights etc and transponders how does that work?

They should just put out a tender with a predetermined budget. Say $1M. Lots of choices available nowadays. Melbourne skybus also has screens that are GPS linked so that the video is interrupted at the right time.

KISS. We don't need to send all of the data everywhere. If people want to contact the depot, there already is a radio in every bus anyway. Can't they program the radio to transmit an alarm to the depot and code of bus that acts as an alarm? Sea navigation radios have specific alarm frequencies you call on. Abuse etc is more of a problem on the Gold Coast than Brisbane and the best protection is personality, customer service and handling (prevention) rather than alarms and cages etc.

[Gazza]

Like one person has said, the current system may take time be rolled out across the network because the price is so high the idea is simply priced out of existence and the bus will thus carry nothing on it.

Fixed.

[verbatim9]

Adelaide has their realtime up and running second city off the block behind Sydney using Siri Realtime. No audible announcements or screens in busses as yet but that would be the next phase. Translink could role out in a similar fashion first the App then the Audio annoiuncements in busses as well as the screens @ Super and City stops and in busses. I like the audio and screens in busses Re the Logan trial. The trip seems faster when you are focused on those screens. http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Announcements/News/More-Than-3500-Stops-Now-Connected-To-Real-Time-Media-Release

[techblitz]

one has to wonder why LCBS got the triptrackers first. Am I right in assuming that they pitched in considerable funds due to them being a decently profitable private operator due to the 555 factor?? They are the only private with consistent cbd bound patronage along the busway...which gets the VFM up considerably. Yet other operators like Redlands(250) and hornibrook (315) don't get the full advantages of the busways...

[techblitz]

Adelaide has their realtime up and running second city off the block behind Sydney using Siri Realtime. No audible announcements or screens in busses as yet but that would be the next phase. Translink could role out in a similar fashion first the App then the Audio annoiuncements in busses as well as the screens @ Super and City stops and in busses. I like the audio and screens in busses Re the Logan trial. The trip seems faster when you are focused on those screens. http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Announcements/News/More-Than-3500-Stops-Now-Connected-To-Real-Time-Media-Release

another advantage of the trip trackers are for connecting to alternate services @ springwood/hyperdome

for one wishing to get from busway to say Waterford west...they can better keep track......if they are going to miss the bus 550 at springwood then simply take the 562 from hyperd...
Also current LCBS bus drivers are audibly alerted if they are running early.

[SurfRail]

Gluing a phone to the dash doesn't provide onboard information, doesn't provide a telematics suite which can monitor things like faults and fuel consumption, doesn't create a simple way of getting duress alarms to drivers, doesn't allow for communications between the bus and depot systems etc.

TripTracker is a very sensible and cost effective way of doing all of this.

Like people have said, the current system is unlikely to be rolled out across the network because the price is so high the idea is simply priced out of existence and the bus will thus carry nothing on it.

How does Melbourne manage to track their trams etc? BCC has induction loops in the street at traffic lights etc and transponders how does that work?

They should just put out a tender with a predetermined budget. Say $1M. Lots of choices available nowadays. Melbourne skybus also has screens that are GPS linked so that the video is interrupted at the right time.

KISS. We don't need to send all of the data everywhere. If people want to contact the depot, there already is a radio in every bus anyway. Can't they program the radio to transmit an alarm to the depot and code of bus that acts as an alarm? Sea navigation radios have specific alarm frequencies you call on. Abuse etc is more of a problem on the Gold Coast than Brisbane and the best protection is personality, customer service and handling (prevention) rather than alarms and cages etc.

As has been pointed out before, the Logan system will have paid for itself through savings generated by it when the new network starts, to the tune of 2-3 buses worth (ie MORE than $1m).

The cost is meaningless because the system costs less to run with TripTracker even accounting for the one-time setup cost.  Your favourite overseas system (the TTC) worked this out ages ago with their equivalent.

[HappyTrainGuy]

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/qconnect/Cairns-Real-Time/Cairns-Real-Time-Bus-Tracker.aspx

Your move SEQ!

[#Metro]

As has been pointed out before, the Logan system will have paid for itself through savings generated by it when the new network starts, to the tune of 2-3 buses worth (ie MORE than $1m).

The cost is meaningless because the system costs less to run with TripTracker even accounting for the one-time setup cost.  Your favourite overseas system (the TTC) worked this out ages ago with their equivalent.

True. I don't agree with your point that cost 'doesn't matter' though, we're always finding ways to do more with less. It is good that the BCR is good, so it is favorable.

Yes the TTC has a system going. I'd crack a joke and ask whether that can really be done in Queensland given that Toronto begins with T and Queensland starts with Q.

There is also the question of how does that information then get transmitted back to the control centre. The obvious answer is some kind of 3g/4g communication, but from what I understand, the go-card technology that is currently being used in SEQ does not have that capability, probably because it is relatively old.

Finally, you also need to be able to match the vehicle and its location to the service it is currently on. Perferably that would require using the route information that the driver enters in to get the exterior displays to work, and matching it to the GPS device, but again, I don't really know anything about the technology they have available in the buses currently being used, and whether this information is integrated together.

Brisbane City Council / TMR has a control centre where they can detect buses using the loops in the road at traffic lights. That's how those real time bus info signs work. Why can't this be used?

[HappyTrainGuy]

But isn't that a flawed and limited system. Doesn't it calculate the buses positioning by their estimated timetable mixed with how fast they cross the sensors and it can't distinguish what actual route has tripped the sensor making it pointless in areas where there are multiple bus routes? Half the time the screens beside the road are displaying the bus eta are just plain wrong. Live tracking via the bus can have advantages to passengers wanting to use the service but it also gives network planners a better insight into how the network flows. How buses bunch up. Where there are pinch points. Where time is made up and lost in the timetable. Security can be improved with the ability to live stream CCTV (one of the big pushes for trains actually having wifi was to live steam onboard CCTV to a remote location and not for passenger use which is a passenger advantage of the system).

[#Metro]

But isn't that a flawed and limited system. Doesn't it calculate the buses positioning by their estimated timetable mixed with how fast they cross the sensors and it can't distinguish what actual route has tripped the sensor making it pointless in areas where there are multiple bus routes? Half the time the screens beside the road are displaying the bus eta are just plain wrong. Live tracking via the bus can have advantages to passengers wanting to use the service but it also gives network planners a better insight into how the network flows. How buses bunch up. Where there are pinch points. Where time is made up and lost in the timetable. Security can be improved with the ability to live stream CCTV (one of the big pushes for trains actually having wifi was to live steam onboard CCTV to a remote location and not for passenger use which is a passenger advantage of the system).

Every system has flaws, costs, benefits, advantages and disadvantages. I don't know of a perfect system and I am sure there is a huge diversity of potential solutions people can come up with. The bus loops give some indication of where buses are and can track route numbers (BT uses this system), a math equation is then used to predict where the bus will be next (not perfect but that was where the technology was in the late 1990's early 2000's).

I don't necessarily agree that security would be improved significantly (as the rate of incidents are vanishingly small anyway) with CCTV being screened or CCTV at all. This surveillance is a relatively new thing to PT and it has a deterrent function. The second issue is privacy and of course it is not CCTV once it has been broadcasted. The supposed CCTV at QR stations is not CCTV at all, anyone can see the (selected) pictures of people being broadcast publicly on the PIDs (Crimestoppers) at Roma Street when they catch a train.

[Golliwog]

Not sure about BCC info screens (do they have any?) but my understanding is the Translink ones are just electronically displaying the timetable. And even then, they do that poorly. I was at Indro this afternoon and the screen there was still showing bus times from 8am this morning.

My understanding is the loops at traffic lights are just standard induction loops (i.e. they detect ferrous metals) and the standard way of detecting buses is by putting 2 more than 1 car but less than 1 bus length apart so both are only triggered by long vehicles. If they're getting route numbers Lapdog, then there's more to it than just an induction loop.

[minbrisbane]

BCC uses RAPID and BLISS to track bus movements. 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCC-BLISS
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCC-RAPID

[HappyTrainGuy]

It's so advanced that it tells you to look at the paper timetables on the wall

[Golliwog]

It's so advanced that it tells you to look at the paper timetables on the wall

Probably because under the existing bus timetables there's probably a number of cases where more than 4 buses are scheduled to arrive in the one minute.

[longboi]

BLISS/RAPID is downright crap. It's old technology which simply wouldn't be helpful in any situation. That's why kerbside and busway PIDs can be unreliable or just default to the timetabled time.

HTG, Cairns real time is operating like Trip Tracker is currently. It's not being actively invested in. It's just being used until it dies or something cheaper comes along.

The problem with GPS data from ticketing equipment is that is isn't broadcast in real time. It needs to be downloaded at the depot. However, utilising this rather than Trip Tracker to analyse OTR and identifying issues is something that is close to being implemented.

As for other GPS systems, bus operators vary in the technology they use and some don't have GPS data at all. Rail could possibly utilise the current system of track circuits/axle counters etc. and ferries have marine tracking data which could also be used.

[bcasey]

I'm fairly sure the traffic intersections that are controlled by BCC now operate with SCATS as their control system.

[#Metro]

SCATS? Does this have anything to do with the BUM? 

[techblitz]

SCATS? Does this have anything to do with the BUM? 

[Golliwog]

I'm fairly sure the traffic intersections that are controlled by BCC now operate with SCATS as their control system.

Unless things have changes since this announcement in 2011, then yes BCC traffic lights use SCATS while TMR traffic lights use STREAMS. From memory the cost difference quoted in the article is because STREAMS/SCATS operate using different systems so it was more than just a software change.

Under this setup the STREAMS and SCATS systems operate separately and don't share data, thought I believe TMR and BCC share a traffic management control room in the city so the people operating each system can work together.

[James]

Not sure about BCC info screens (do they have any?) but my understanding is the Translink ones are just electronically displaying the timetable. And even then, they do that poorly. I was at Indro this afternoon and the screen there was still showing bus times from 8am this morning.

My understanding is the loops at traffic lights are just standard induction loops (i.e. they detect ferrous metals) and the standard way of detecting buses is by putting 2 more than 1 car but less than 1 bus length apart so both are only triggered by long vehicles. If they're getting route numbers Lapdog, then there's more to it than just an induction loop.

The error at Indooroopilly has been there for weeks - it was there when I was at Indooroopilly last Saturday. It occurs once every 1-2 months as well.

I just don't trust those PIDs. BCC might as well just switch the system off and make them just display the timetable, or something like that. At least then you don't need to check the timetable to see when the next bus is coming (or confirm that there are practically no buses operating on Sundays )

[longboi]

I'm fairly sure the traffic intersections that are controlled by BCC now operate with SCATS as their control system.

Unless things have changes since this announcement in 2011, then yes BCC traffic lights use SCATS while TMR traffic lights use STREAMS. From memory the cost difference quoted in the article is because STREAMS/SCATS operate using different systems so it was more than just a software change.

Under this setup the STREAMS and SCATS systems operate separately and don't share data, thought I believe TMR and BCC share a traffic management control room in the city so the people operating each system can work together.

Yep. The Brisbane Metropolitan Traffic Management Centre is located in Brisbane Square.

BT bus control and Busway Operations are also located there. Pretty cool set up in there.

[Golliwog]

I'm fairly sure the traffic intersections that are controlled by BCC now operate with SCATS as their control system.

Unless things have changes since this announcement in 2011, then yes BCC traffic lights use SCATS while TMR traffic lights use STREAMS. From memory the cost difference quoted in the article is because STREAMS/SCATS operate using different systems so it was more than just a software change.

Under this setup the STREAMS and SCATS systems operate separately and don't share data, thought I believe TMR and BCC share a traffic management control room in the city so the people operating each system can work together.

Yep. The Brisbane Metropolitan Traffic Management Centre is located in Brisbane Square.

BT bus control and Busway Operations are also located there. Pretty cool set up in there.

So many screens! Would be awesome for a LAN party 

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/media-releases/details/806

TransLink on cloud nine with new website hosting

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Queensland's public transport authority, TransLink, is on cloud nine with its new website hosting arrangements unveiled recently (Tuesday, October .

TransLink Deputy Director-General Matt Longland said the team used open-source software Drupal to create a new back-of-house Content Management System (CMS) to continue development of the award-winning website.

"The TransLink website is the State Government's most clicked-on website with an average of 130,000 visits per day, so we needed software that was robust but easy for staff to update public transport information throughout the day," Mr Longland said.

"The change will allow us to provide faster updates, offer new features for customers looking for public transport information and improve the efficiency for our internal processes.

"Information being uploaded to the cloud includes service status information, news and events and go-card retailer locations, as well as other non-critical website content.

"Our customers will notice faster updates and new features for public transport information on the website.

"Importantly, there will be no downtime for customers using the website during our transition process.

"Our web team will see improved efficiency with internal processes and see superior server uptime and download performance."

The website is supported 24/7 through Acquia Enterprise and cloud-hosted in Australia by Amazon Web Services.

"Cloud-based storage is quickly becoming the industry standard for storing data at work and at home," Mr Longland said.

"I'm thrilled that TransLink has been one of the first government agencies in Queensland to develop a cloud-based data hosting under the relevant State Government guidelines."

Sensitive data such as customer account details will remain on existing secure servers.

For more information, visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30, anytime.