WDW busses to get GPS tracking system

[speck76]

To improve efficiency and trim expenses, Disney World officials plan to install GPS satellite tracking systems on the resort's vast network of buses, Disney World President Al Weiss said Friday.

By using Global Positioning Systems to track which buses are busiest and which aren't being used, the company can trim staffing and better direct the fleet.

He said the company is in the process of developing the satellite system, which should be fully operational by next year.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I am a fan of anything that will make the transportation system better (not that it's bad). I like the idea of them making it more efficient.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I'm all efficiency - but I fail to see how GPS will say how busy a bus is. If the buses run to a timetable then GPS will just identify their position. The simple issuing of tickets as guests board will determine how many people have travelled

 

[dxwwf3]

Hopefully this will help out alot. Thanks for the news.

 

[mousermerf]

The buses don't operate on a timetable. They often sit and wait for Guests, if any, during the slower daytime periods. During peak periods, they simply go to and from as quickly as possible. Disney says 20mins but that's really just an average.

Say you're sitting at Epcot for a long time to goto MGM and no bus has come. A driver getting off break or what have you may have no guests to bring to the assigned resort, so they may pick you up. This is actually kinda common.

This system will help figure out where the detours are occuring and what the demand actually is at various times to help plan better. Currently, much of it is guess-work.

 

[Shaman]

To improve efficiency and trim expenses, Disney World officials plan to install GPS satellite tracking systems on the resort's vast network of buses, Disney World President Al Weiss said Friday.

By using Global Positioning Systems to track which buses are busiest and which aren't being used, the company can trim staffing and better direct the fleet.

He said the company is in the process of developing the satellite system, which should be fully operational by next year.

Sounds like a good idea to me...I wonder how much it will cost them?

 

[Robfasto]

I have heard they have been testing a couple of systems and it sounds like they have select the system they want to use. It is my understanding that the driver will be able to input the number of guest on the bus to help with traffic. This way drivers may not be driving the same route all day, one trip they may be going from Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom Lodge, the computer will tell if them (dispatch) if another bus is going to arrive at the Animal Kingdom Lodge within a couple of minutes and might release for first bus to go pick up guest someplace else instead of the Lodge.

I have seen them do this a couple of times already via radio as I have been on a bus the arrives at a my location but lets you off at a 'empty' stop then leaves without picking up guest.

GPS will allow them to know the location of each bus without having to worry about radio traffic, which has background noise, drivers with 'broken' english' and so on.

 

[Invero]

The GPS will allow for many different things. It will let the dispatchers know how soon the fleet will be returning, so they can dispatch appropriately. It will allow for integration of a GPS-triggered spiel. It will also identify any drivers that exceed the posted speed limit, or rather, drivers that go far under the speed limit.

 

[TTATraveler]

Sounds interesting, hopefully the GPS will make the buses more efficient

 

[askmike1]

This sounds like great news.

 

[Woody13]

The GPS hardware on the bus will provide a location and time-stamp for all activity. In addition, the hardware will contain a wireless modem that will send all bus data back to the dispatch office in real-time. The hardware will collect data on bus activity such as:

• Engine on/off
• Bus stop times, locations, loading/unloading times
• Actual bus route driven and automatic vehicle location
• Bus speeds and idling times
• Entry/exit times from bus yards, staging areas, fuel depots, etc.

The hardware may also have passenger radio frequency identification (RFID). This will provide accurate records of all passengers boarding and exiting buses. Also, the system might incorporate sensors at each of the bus stops that would provide real time passenger information to the dispatch office. For example dispatch would know instantly that 150 guests
are waiting at the MK bus stop at the POP Century and they could take appropriate action.

The system might also include electronic signs at each bus stop that would provide real time data to the passengers waiting at the stop. The signs would show how many minutes until the next bus arrives. This information would be updated automatically by the GPS system. For people with impaired vision this information could be provided with audio announcements triggered by a special radio key fob.

In addition, the security advantages are obvious.

 

[no2apprentice]

Say you're sitting at Epcot for a long time to goto MGM and no bus has come.

I thought the buses went from park to resort, but not park to park. Has this changed, or are there some routes I'm not aware of?

 

[lscott933]

well it sound to me that the bus driver are going to monitor more too. to see if they are speeding or taking there time to there stops too. . one to make the bus more efficeint in today. the cost of fuel going up to low cost there along with the buses driver perfomance.

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

I thought the buses went from park to resort, but not park to park. Has this changed, or are there some routes I'm not aware of?

there are some buses that go from park to park (not as in mk to epcot... monorail...)

 

[AEfx]

The hardware may also have passenger radio frequency identification (RFID). This will provide accurate records of all passengers boarding and exiting buses. Also, the system might incorporate sensors at each of the bus stops that would provide real time passenger information to the dispatch office. For example dispatch would know instantly that 150 guests
are waiting at the MK bus stop at the POP Century and they could take appropriate action.

I think you are reaching a bit there, Woody.

The only way for RFID to have anything to do with counting would be if each and every guest was carrying a coded RFID transmitter.

Unless Disney is planning on tagging guests under their skin, it wouldn't work. And they couldn't just incorporate RFID into the tickets at a strength that would be usable by a wide area like that on paper without a great deal of expense. RFID's of any strength (readable from more than a foot or so away) needs a battery (like ID tags for offices and such - the stronger ones have tiny batteries and run about $10 each).

RFID can't just "count" a group of people - it simply reads transmitted data. If nothing transmits the data, nothing can be read.

It doesn't sound like this GPS system has anything to do with RFID besides being a really nice jargon-inspiring acronym of the moment.

Nice try though.

AEfx

 

[askmike1]

I have no knowledge of RFID or the system they will use, but can't they just count people with the sensors they have throughout the parks (like as you exit Splash Mountain)? The thing I am talking about is when they have a sensor in a hand-rail and people must go through that way. They could put these counters where the line for the bus is and transmit it.

-Michael

 

[Robfasto]

I have no knowledge of RFID or the system they will use, but can't they just count people with the sensors they have throughout the parks (like as you exit Splash Mountain)? The thing I am talking about is when they have a sensor in a hand-rail and people must go through that way. They could put these counters where the line for the bus is and transmit it.

-Michael

That would work although there have been a number of times when I haven't gone through the line when boarding a bus...

 

[Woody13]

I think you are reaching a bit there, Woody.

The only way for RFID to have anything to do with counting would be if each and every guest was carrying a coded RFID transmitter.

Unless Disney is planning on tagging guests under their skin, it wouldn't work. And they couldn't just incorporate RFID into the tickets at a strength that would be usable by a wide area like that on paper without a great deal of expense. RFID's of any strength (readable from more than a foot or so away) needs a battery (like ID tags for offices and such - the stronger ones have tiny batteries and run about $10 each).

RFID can't just "count" a group of people - it simply reads transmitted data. If nothing transmits the data, nothing can be read.

It doesn't sound like this GPS system has anything to do with RFID besides being a really nice jargon-inspiring acronym of the moment.

Nice try though.

AEfx

It no reach at all. ActiveWave passive (and disposalible) RFID tags already exist. They require no batteries. Do you know what EAS tags are? These systems are currently working all over the world! The tag can be incorporated into an admission ticket or a resort room card (or anything else). The guest will never even know it is there.

Also, there is no need to tag guests under the skin.:lol: Just remember that when you board a bus or depart a bus, each passenger must pass through a narrow doorway.

P.S. WDW already uses RFID for counting!

 

[askmike1]

That would work although there have been a number of times when I haven't gone through the line when boarding a bus...

If there is a long line for the bus, then you must go through it. If there is no line and you just take a shortcut to the front, then it wouldn't make a difference since there would be no line to report. Or a better way, like Woody13 said, would be to put it in the bus doorway.

-Michael

 

[Robfasto]

If there is no line and you just take a shortcut to the front, then it wouldn't make a difference since there would be no line to report. Or a better way, like Woody13 said, would be to put it in the bus doorway.

-Michael

It would make a bit of a difference if a group(s) of guest got on without going through the line, the GPS would show an empty bus and want to send it someplace else although the bus might have 10 or 15 guest on it.

The best bet would be on the bus doorway.... either that or have the driver count and manually enter the number or load percentage...