T3 Webinar:
5/14/2008 - How to Implement the TimeTable Publisher: An Open Source Application for Transit Agencies
May 14, 2008
Text version of Webinar presentation:
"How to Implement the TimeTable Publisher: An Open Source Application for Transit Agencies"
Description of image or images on a slide contained in brackets.
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Slide 1: TimeTablePublisher
History and Current Status
Open Source Software
Benefits and Potential
Technical Support
T3 Webinar
May 14, 2008
Bibiana McHugh
Slide 2: TTPUB History
2004 TRB Transit IDEA Project #39
- ConSysTech’s Dynamic Timetable Generator (DTG)
2005 Transit Forum Workshop
- DTG was suggested for a potential open source project
2006 TriMet Replaced Legacy System with TTPUB
2007 TTPUB Released with OS License
Slide 3: Open Source
Application is publicly available
- Based on Mozilla Public License 1.1
Benefits:
- Broad user and developer base
- Shared costs, risks, and lessons learned
- Software support and maintenance can be extended indefinitely
- Consistent user interface
Slide 4: TTPUB Status
Internal Uses at TriMet
- Generates all printed timetable materials
- Generates Web HTML and PDF Timetables
[Image of customer in front of a rack of printed timetables. Customer is selecting a schedule. A second image shows a pedestrian passing by a kiosk displaying bus schedules. A third image shows a screen shot of TTPUB, displaying the schedule for a particular route.
]
Slide 5: TTPUB Status
Internal Uses at TriMet
- Generates all printed timetable materials
- Generates Web HTML and PDF Timetables
Test Implementations:
- KING Co. Metro
- NYSDOT
- Hampton Roads Transit
- Lane County Transit
Slide 6: Lessons Learned
- Working together with other agencies has been great.
- Timetable issues are similar between agencies.
- Minimal effort to implement.
- No showstoppers yet encountered.
- Java and Java Web Application Servers experience – required only to add to the code.
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Slide 7: Enhancement Opportunities
Template-Driven Publishing system has vast potential for expansion:
- View schedule for a route between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm
- View schedule on an iPhone or other mobile device
- Create text version that meets ADA requirements
Additional Agency Requirements
- The code can be built upon and shared with others
Slide 8: TTPUB Process
1. Raw Schedule Data
[Screen shot of raw schedule data in TTPUB.]
Slide 9: TTPUB Process
2. Input into TTPUB System
[Image of a flowchart that shows TTPUB Process for creating a timetable. The input is raw schedule data. Next, the chart shows that the data can be inputted into TTPUB in number of formats (enterprise database, CSV, XML, DFS, Custom data).]
Slide 10: Priority Treatments
3. Configure and Prepare Data
[Image of flowchart continuing from Slide 9. Shows that raw schedule data is inputted into TTPUB. It is then configured and prepared, resulting in a timetable. Shows an image of a timetable.]
Slide 11: TTPUB Process
4. Output into Various Formats for Public Use (digital and paper)
[Image of flowchart continuing from Slide 9. Shows that raw schedule data is inputted into TTPUB. It is then configured and prepared, resulting in a timetable. Shows an image of a timetable. After it is configured, the timetable data can be outputted in several formats (web based output in HTML and PDF format) or data for printed materials (PDF proofing, MS Excel, Adobe InDesign XML).]
Slide 12: Web HTML Output
[Screen shot of a Tri-Met timetable generated by data inputted into TTPUB.]
Slide 13: Web HTML Output Sample
[Screen shot of a HMTL output of a Tri-Met timetable. In addition to the timetable, the screen shot shows the a map and a pop-up box that allows the user to enter a street address to get directions from the selected stop to the addressed entered.]
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Slide 14: Why Use the TTPUB?
| Consistent | Single system for print and Web output. |
| Current | Quicker turn-around and can generate directly from database. |
| Control | TimeTablePublisher gives Marketing team full control over public schedule information.
|
| Costs | Cost reduction from automation and repeatable processes (from 30 to 2 hours per route).
|
| GTFS | Standardized data format lowers the barrier to using the TimeTablePublisher. |
| Bottom Line | Better Information and Reduced Costs. |
Slide 15: TTPUB Technical Support
Slide 16: Open Source Software Support*.(Oregon Based Companies)
Singlemind Consulting
Cort Buchholz, President
503.914.6272
cort@singlemindconsulting.com
www.singlemindconsulting.com
Concentric Sky
Wayne Skipper, President
(541) 968-5994
http://concentricsky.com
*Any recommendations expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of or represent
an endorsement by the United States Government or the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- In addition to finding free support through the on-line development community, consultants with staffed Java expertise can provide assistance with implementation and customizations for your agency.
- Open source software support providers usually offer various support contracts, in addition to incident rates. I easily found a couple local businesses in my area that are capable of providing support for the TTPUB and contributing back to the source code. SingleMind Consulting offers both hourly-based and yearly subscription rates.
- The resource, documentation, and developer support will grow and strengthen as more agencies adopt the application for their uses.
Slide 17: Questions?
Bibiana McHugh
mchughb@trimet.org
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