Project Number:
99-3
Research Project:
A Task Decomposition Model for Dispatchers in Dynamic Scheduling of Demand Responsive Transit Systems
P.I. Names & Addresses:
Maged Dessouky
Industrial & Systems Engineering
University of Southern California
3715 McClintock Ave., GER 240
Los Angeles, CA90089-0193
Tel: 213-740-4891
Fax: 213-740-1120
Email: maged@rcf.usc.edu
Mansour Rahimi
Industrial & Systems Engineering
University of Southern California
3715 McClintock Ave., GER 240
Los Angeles, CA90089-0193
Tel: 213-740-4016
Fax: 213-740-1120
Email: mrahimi@rcf.usc.edu
Project Objective:
To develop a task analytic model of the dispatcher in the scheduling process.To reach this goal, the set of activities that dispatchers perform will be identified using a set of software modules assigned for each task.We will finally produce a set of robustness criteria with which one can evaluate the usefulness of generic software in this domain.The results of this research will be disseminated through Access Services to other similar agencies around the country and will be published in refereed journals and proceedings.
Project Abstract:: The growth of personalized public transit and demand responsive transit began in the late 1970s and early 1980s with large demonstration projects in Rochester NY and Santa Clara County, CA.Due to the lack of advanced communication and tracking technologies, the early systems tended to operate as advanced reservation systems with some service providers requiring users to place a reservation at least one day in advance.This product will review commercially available software with the goal of developing a hierarchical task analysis model.The model will be directed at producing a logical representation of a dispatcher's task and its requirements, and to use this model to improve the dispatcher interface.
Task Descriptions:
1.Interviewing ASI, selecting and studying scheduling components of a typical packages
2.Interviewing the dispatchers to define their "goal/subgoal"
3.Identifying the match between the goal hierarchy and the scheduling features
4.Modeling using HTA and SGT
5.Defining robustness criteria for each software module using HCI principles
6.Writing the final report
Milestones, Dates:
Final report by 6/30/00
Yearly Budget:
$38,177
Total Budget:
$54,667
Student Involvement:
One graduate research assistant, 12 months at 50% effort
Relationship to Other Research Projects:
Project falls in transit focus area, and complements project 99-11 which is assessing needs of low income households
Technology Transfer Activities:
Findings will be communicated to demand responsive industry through Access Services
Potential Benefits of the Project:
Reduced cost for demand responsive transit Improved service for ADA dependent transit riders
TRB Keywords:
Transit, Demand Responsive Transportation, Dispatchers
Primary Subject:
Fleet Operational Management - Technologies that facilitate efficient movement of cargo and people among modes and provide needed information to shippers and travelers
Goals:
Mobility, National Society
Enabling Research:
Computer, Information and Communication, Tools for Modeling and Design
Modal Orientation:
Transit
