myAvail Originally working with myAvail as a CAD / AVL system , along with Avail ’ s Integrated Vehicle Unit ( IVU ) and control head , the latest upgrades to Palm Tran ’ s myAvail system equips the agency with upgraded features and functionality , data analytics , and self-service reporting . The most recent deployment brought upgraded onboard technology to the entire fleet , including the latest IVU-3 and 10- inch touch screen driver display , and new infotainment displays that coordinate service messaging , schedules , and customized announcements for public consumption . The latest version of myAvail is designed to reduce road calls , support dispatchers , and inform riders . Avail said the system is designed with role-based user interfaces for operations , finance , and administration staff ; automatic mining and analysis of operational data ; and highly configurable performance dashboards .
Fleetwide Communication , Management , and Maintenance “ Riders are going to see , in some ways , a whole new Palm Tran when it comes to communicating information ,” said Dietter Aragon , senior program manager for Avail . “ Improved information for analysis , and more direct information to connect customers with Palm Tran services .” Renato Paiva , senior manager of information technology at Palm Tran , said that a fleetwide upgrade was critical for Palm Tran ’ s future success . “ We never want ‘ mixed flavors ’ in the fleet , in terms of technological capability ,” Paiva said . “ If only some buses are running with the latest IVUs , it can complicate matters when we need to launch an announcement . It is important for the entire fleet to have the same location and communication capabilities .” In the wake of COVID-19 , Paiva said , Palm Tran ’ s ability to send fleetwide , on-demand messages was invaluable .
“ The capability to quickly relay text-to-speech messages to every bus was a big upgrade , when we previously had to wait for buses to return to the yard and connect to our Wi-Fi ,” Paiva said . “ Palm Beach County – with its large service area , adverse weather such as hurricanes , and mix of urban and rural routes – can be a very dynamic environment . If something happens , we need to quickly send messages to passengers and drivers across our entire fleet .” Paiva said that live reporting is another critical facet of the system upgrade . When he first joined Palm Tran in December 2017 , real-time vehicle reporting was accurate within a minute . With the latest upgrade , location reporting is now accurate within 10 to 15 seconds of a bus ’ s actual location . “ During COVID , we had to change our bus schedules several times and limit the number of riders on each bus ,” he said . “ With the new system , we can make these changes ‘ on the fly .’ Bus routes and services can be modified on the road , without vehicles returning to our lot for updates .”
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