Interactive Software Tool for Interactive Software Tool for Scheduling of Individual Bus Scheduling of Individual Bus Operators on a Fixed RouteOperators on a Fixed Route

Anuradha I. Piyadasa, Anuradha I. Piyadasa, Amal S. KumarageAmal S. Kumarage

77thth August 2004August 2004

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

�� Background & ContextBackground & Context�� Manual Process in early daysManual Process in early days�� Abandonment in recent timesAbandonment in recent times

�� Problems at PresentProblems at Present

�� Features in Sri Lanka that are uniqueFeatures in Sri Lanka that are unique�� Individual operatorsIndividual operators�� Each bus assigned to a single routeEach bus assigned to a single route�� Equitable benefits between operatorsEquitable benefits between operators

Present Day problems of the Bus Present Day problems of the Bus SectorSector

�� High High OverloadingOverloading during peak timesduring peak times

�� High High waiting time waiting time for busesfor buses

�� LingeringLingering at halts during offat halts during off--peak timespeak times

�� Intense competition leading to accidentsIntense competition leading to accidents

�� Private buses operating only at profitable times (no early morning, late Private buses operating only at profitable times (no early morning, late night, rural buses) leading to housing issues & increase in three wheelersnight, rural buses) leading to housing issues & increase in three wheelers

�� Poor Poor standard of private buses standard of private buses used.used.

�� Unwanted elements Unwanted elements controlcontrol bus operationsbus operations

INTERACTIVE FRAMEWORK FOR INTERACTIVE FRAMEWORK FOR PLANNING AND SCHEDULINGPLANNING AND SCHEDULING

�� The main objective of scheduling and planning of routes is to The main objective of scheduling and planning of routes is to provide the best quality service using the minimum number of provide the best quality service using the minimum number of buses.buses.

�� However the following constraints apply: However the following constraints apply: �� the required breaks for the crew, the required breaks for the crew,

layover times for buses to meet peaking function in passenger demand, layover times for buses to meet peaking function in passenger demand, �� layover times for buses to meet peaking function in passenger demand, layover times for buses to meet peaking function in passenger demand, �� the reintroduction of buses after breaks and layovers, the reintroduction of buses after breaks and layovers, �� compliance to maximum working hours compliance to maximum working hours �� and other regulatory requirements and other regulatory requirements

�� This type of complexity has been considered as an extremely This type of complexity has been considered as an extremely difficult task (Kwan et al, 1993).difficult task (Kwan et al, 1993).

�� Therefore an interactive framework is required.Therefore an interactive framework is required.

Existing Demand and

Supply

Headways

Dispatching Buses,

Providing Breaks,

Layover, etc...

Changes

Terminal/Route

Information

Layover, etc...Actions by Scheduler

Actions by Scheduler/Computer

Actions by Computer

Review Changes

Report Generation

Program ModulesProgram Modules

�� Terminal Information ManagerTerminal Information Manager

�� Route Information ManagerRoute Information Manager

Headway DesignerHeadway Designer

UNIUNI--Scheduler Scheduler –– AN INTERACTIVE AN INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE TOOL FOR BUS SCHEDULINGSOFTWARE TOOL FOR BUS SCHEDULING

�� Headway DesignerHeadway Designer

�� Timetable DesignerTimetable Designer

�� Report GeneratorReport Generator

TERMINAL INFORMATION MANAGERTERMINAL INFORMATION MANAGER

�� Each terminal is assigned a three letter Each terminal is assigned a three letter code known as “Terminal Code”. code known as “Terminal Code”.

�� The Terminal Information Manager The Terminal Information Manager supports English, Sinhala and Tamil supports English, Sinhala and Tamil languages. languages.

ROUTE INFORMATION MANAGERROUTE INFORMATION MANAGER

The basic information required here includeThe basic information required here include

�� The route number, its origin, via and The route number, its origin, via and destinationdestinationdestinationdestination

�� the buses available for that route. the buses available for that route.

�� start and end time of traffic day, travel time and start and end time of traffic day, travel time and route lengths; route lengths;

�� The split of buses between operators and The split of buses between operators and runnings from each terminal.runnings from each terminal.

Mid Points

Design Parameters

Buses On Route

HEADWAY DESIGNERHEADWAY DESIGNER

The Headway Designer tool automatically calculates

the start time of each time period with the associated

headway based on passenger demand. It also

calculates the cumulative number of trips for the

whole day.

�� The tool also calculates the average headway for The tool also calculates the average headway for the day to compare it with the the day to compare it with the optimum optimum headway headway range provided by the objective range provided by the objective function developed by Kumarage and Piyadasa function developed by Kumarage and Piyadasa (2002). (2002). (2002). (2002).

�� Once the headway plan is developed using UNIOnce the headway plan is developed using UNI--Scheduler, it calculates the average headway for Scheduler, it calculates the average headway for a day. This average headway is then checked a day. This average headway is then checked against the headway range provided by above against the headway range provided by above model and changes are done if average model and changes are done if average headway does not fit into the range headway does not fit into the range

GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF COSTS AND REVENUESCOSTS AND REVENUES

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

To

tal

Va

lue

Rs

/Mo

nth

(0

00

s)

0

1,000

2,000

2713865432

Averge Headway (mts) non linear scale

To

tal

Va

lue

Rs

/Mo

nth

(0

00

s)

ECP(Total)

ECO(Total)

FROHf – Financially Viable Headway He – Economical Headway

ECP - Economic Cost of Passengers, ECO - Economic Cost of Operation, FRO - Financial Revenue of Operators

GRAPHCAL REPRESENTATION OF GRAPHCAL REPRESENTATION OF CREW DEPLOYMENT HOURSCREW DEPLOYMENT HOURS

14.0

16.0

18.0

For better utilization of crew, crew should work at least 8 hours.For better utilization of crew, crew should work at least 8 hours.

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

132.

626

.514

.7 9.5

7.4

6.0

5.1

4.4

3.5

2.9

2.2

"Crew Deployment(hrs)"

Avg. Headway(mts) Non Linear Scale

Ho

urs

Hcd1

Hcd2

GRAPHCAL REPRESENTATION OF GRAPHCAL REPRESENTATION OF OVERLOADINGOVERLOADING

6.00

7.00

8.00"Over Load Factor"

Overload Factor is calculated including legal overload.Overload Factor is calculated including legal overload.

-

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

132.

626

.514

.7 9.5

7.4

6.0

5.1

4.4

3.5

2.9

2.2

1.5

0.8

Avg. Headway(mts) Non linear scale

Lo

ad

Fa

cto

r

hol

AVERAGE HEADWAY DESIGN AVERAGE HEADWAY DESIGN CONSTRAINSCONSTRAINS

�� Economic Optimum (Less than minutes)Economic Optimum (Less than minutes)

�� hhdesign design < h< hee

�� Financial Optimum (Greater than minutes)Financial Optimum (Greater than minutes)

�� hhdesign design > h> hff

�� Average Load Factor (Less than minutes)Average Load Factor (Less than minutes)

�� hhdesign design < h< holol

�� Crew Deployment Hours (Range)Crew Deployment Hours (Range)

�� hhcd1cd1 < < hhdesign design < h< hcd2cd2

Headway Design

TIMETABLE DESIGNERTIMETABLE DESIGNER

�� DispatcherDispatcher

�� Departure ChangerDeparture Changer

�� RemoverRemover�� RemoverRemover

�� Trip InterchangerTrip Interchanger

�� Break ProviderBreak Provider

�� Service ProviderService Provider

�� Running Information ViewerRunning Information Viewer

�� Fleet Information ViewerFleet Information Viewer

Dispatcher

Trip Interchanger

Departure Changer

Trip Remover

REPORT GENERATORREPORT GENERATOR

�� The program has a function to generate The program has a function to generate the reports that are required by the reports that are required by

�� the regulating authority;the regulating authority;�� the regulating authority;the regulating authority;

�� The passengerThe passenger

�� and the operators.and the operators.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

�� It has been successfully used to schedule It has been successfully used to schedule over 2500 buses in more than 90 routes over 2500 buses in more than 90 routes mainly in the Western Province. mainly in the Western Province. mainly in the Western Province. mainly in the Western Province.

�� Typical Before and After indicatorsTypical Before and After indicators

Route #182: Operational Comparison Before & AfterRoute #182: Operational Comparison Before & After

BeforeBefore AfterAfter

Trips per DayTrips per Day 3.63.6 4.54.5

Round Trip TimeRound Trip Time 220 mts220 mts 96 mts96 mtsRound Trip TimeRound Trip Time 220 mts220 mts 96 mts96 mts

Crew HoursCrew Hours 13 to 14 hrs13 to 14 hrs 5 to 9 hrs5 to 9 hrs

Off days per monthOff days per month NoneNone 55