technology at dallas area rapid transit at dallas area rapid transit allan ... • providing project...

Technology at Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Allan Steele

VP/CIO

July 23, 2013

[email protected]

Topics 1. Introduction

2. Vision

3. Infrastructure and Operations

4. Intelligent Transportation Systems Technology

5. Applications Systems Management

6. Program Management Office

7. Projects to Improve Customer Experience

8. Projects and Workload 1. Infrastructure

2. Intelligent Infrastructure Technology

3. Applications Systems

4. Information Management

9. Capacity vs workload and the need for contractors

10. Concluding Points 2 © Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2012

IT Vision

The Information Technology Department operates as the technology services provider to the Agency and its customers. It delivers and maintains effective technology solutions using internal and external resources as available and needed.

© Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2012 3

IT Infrastructure

Primary Data Center – all systems hosted internally except Google Mail

Secondary Data Center for DR

Real time data replication, virtual servers for very fast transfer

MPLS WAN connecting 20 sites

Gigabit LAN in all facilities

Oracle is primary DBMS

SAN storage architecture

1,800 desktop PCs, 400 laptops


Desktop Services


• Repurpose about 1,500 PCs as thin client machines

– Much longer life - >10 years

– Eventually replace with thin client devices at $150

• Applications delivered “virtually” from servers

– using 2X/Citrix/Terminal Server technology

• “Power users” retain full featured PC

The Result

• Reduces annual hardware cost by $250,000

• Much easier to support, greater flexibility for change

• Potential to reduce license costs

Telecommunications

• Replacing PBXs with VoIP communications servers in the data center, and new hand sets

• Quality of Service (QoS) on MPLS ensures quality voice transmission

• Reduce PBX maintenance and local phone line costs by $250,000

• Positions platform for future unified messaging – interchange of voice mail and email, desk top video conferencing (2014)

• WiFi 802.11n upgrade/roll out to support mobility

• 3G/4G cellular for vehicle & small facility connections © Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2012 6

Systems Engineering/PDC –2013 • Increase Thin Client Terminal Server farm hardware and capacity

• Virtualize 90% of all servers - approximately 250

• 110 terabytes of storage in 3 tiers + cloud

• Secondary Data Center (SDC) for disaster recovery

• Migrated e-mail and collaboration into cloud services – Google mail; Google sites

• Support mobility internally and externally

• Consolidate remote hardware to PDC and SDC

7 © Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2012

ITS Technology

• Vehicle-based systems

– VBS on rail; VLU on bus;

– Wireless system on vehicles • Radio, WiFi, GPS, AVL

– Right of way systems • Traffic signal priority,

maintenance of way, corridor management

– Camera systems

– Geo-information systems • Routes, bus stop

inventory © Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2012 8

Technology in Transportation Operations

Bus Based Systems • Vehicle monitoring

• Fare Collection

• Passenger information display

• GPS based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)

• Automatic Passenger Counting

• Security cameras

Buses and trains equipped with a private radio system for operator voice communications to Dispatch, and vehicle location data every 90 seconds 4G wireless under consideration


Enterprise Class Applications Systems

Trapeze – 16 modules

• Route planning, design and scheduling for buses

• Operator scheduling and work assignments

• Route performance management

• Trip planning for riders via web site or call center

SPEAR – 2 modules

• Maintenance logistics and work orders

• Materials Management

Lawson – 18 modules

• Finance, Procurement and Human Capital System


FLEET/FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SPEAR 2000 Overhauls

Preventative Maint. Re-Builds

Paint & Body Campaigns

Facilities Maint. Ways/ & Structures

Material Mgt. Barcode System

FLEETWATCH Fueling Systems MMII Online Maintenance Manuals - AIT

PARATRANSIT PASS - TRAPRZE

Trip Bookings Dispatching

Complaints/Commendations Certifications

RIDESHARE TRAPEZE

Trip Matching

AVL (Automatic Vehicle Locator) BASE MAP (GIS) - ESRI

Bus Stop Inventory (GIS) – Clever Devices Time Points (GIS) - Clever Devices

Transit Works – Bus Dispatch

SERVICE PLANNING TRAPEZE

Planning Demographics Schedules

Bus Stop Inventory Route Planning

MAPS – GIS BlockBuster

CUSTOMER SERVICE Customer Information - TRAPEZE

(Schedule Information, Trip Planning) Complaints/Commendations – TRAPEZE

Web Based Trip Planning -TRAPEZE InterActive Voice Response (IVR) - Ontira (Paratransit,Bus,Rail,Comm Rail, Other) Photo ID’s (Reduced Fares) - In-House Pass/Ticket Sales - LAWSON, In-House Point-of-Sale DART Store - InfoGenesis

ADMINISTRATIVE Accounts Payable - LAWSON

Accounts Receivable - LAWSON General Ledger - LAWSON

Cash Mgt. - LAWSON Asset Mgt. – LAWSON

Employee Self Service - LAWSON Budget - LAWSON, In-House

Contracts - In-House Purchasing – LAWSON

MBE - In-House Budgeting/Cost Modeling - COGNOS

FARE COLLECTION GFI - General Farebox Incorporated

TVM’s PASS/TICKETS - LAWSON

Ridership - General Farebox Incorporated In-House

CHARTERS Charter Bus Orders - In House

Customer Billing - LAWSON

TRANSPORTATION TRAPEZE

Run Bidding Time Keeping

Performance Mgt. Bus Yard Mgt.

Daily Dispatching Operator Sign-In

Human Resource Mgt. LAWSON

Applications Benefits

Attendance Payroll

Retirement - PEN-CAL Risk Management - Risk Sciences

DART Technology Functional Area Support Systems 11 © Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2012

Custom Applications Systems • DARTNet – intranet and workflow

• FileNet – Records management

• Telestaff – Police scheduling and timekeeping

• Fleetwatch – fuel and fluids consumption

• Electronic Parts Catalog – images of parts and sub-assemblies

• COGNOS – budget development

• Ripplestone – Crystal Reports server

• ESRI – geo-information systems

• Namsys – revenue cash management

• Primavera – program management for construction

• Expedition– document management for construction

• CMS – Contract management system for construction costs 12 © Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2012

ap.DART.org (accounts payable)

www.DARTnet.org (intranet)

www.DART.org

m.DART.org (mobile)

transporteDART.org (Spanish)

DARTNet – DART’s intranet The Web Applications team supports and develops applications and workflows on the agency's web sites

Technology Program Management Office

2011 Focus • Providing project management support for projects in IT and other departments • Assisting project leaders get projects into the “done” bucket – 57 in 2011 • Maturing project management capabilities with targeted coaching and training • Continue developing program and project standards and templates

“Doing the right things and doing things right.”


IT Projects and Workload

Infrastructure Workload

Maintenance and Support - 21 people – Running the network and data centers, desktop support

Projects

• UNIX upgrade

• Thin client roll out

• WiFi LAN at all facilities

• Cellular connection in WAN for small sites

• End user experience


Intelligent Transportation Systems Workload

• Maintenance and Support - <4 people – Traffic signaling, computers on light rail, auto passenger counters

Projects

• TRE Next Train signs

• In-vehicle technology for bus and light rail – Communications, monitoring

• Connection protection

• Customer digital displays in transit centers

• In-vehicle technology for non-revenue vehicles – Field Supervisors – laptops and tablets


Applications Management Workload Maintenance and Support – approx. 10 people • 3 enterprise application suites, approx 40 modules

• Departmental applications and intranet

Projects

• Oracle R11g upgrade

• Lawson Procurement Phase II

• Lawson Grants module

• Lawson V10 upgrade

• Enterprise Asset Management for TRE

• Enterprise Asset Management for DART (SPEAR replacement)

• D&EO software

• Intranet work requests – web development


Architecture &Information Mgnt Workload

• Maintenance and Support - >3 people – IVR, auto attendant, project portfolio, business intelligence

Projects

• Mobile ticketing application – September launch

• Enterprise architecture documentation and development

• Information Management – business intelligence

• Program Management – PM tools, standards

• Reporting analysis and standards

• Business process engineering

• Geospatial projects


Capacity vs Workload

• IT has 64 full time positions

• Approximately 38 of those are needed for maintenance and support – “keep the lights on”

• Another 12 are needed for routine requests & minor projects

• The balance of 14 is insufficient to address the project backlog

• We are considering a General IT Services contract – Contract with one vendor who will supply skilled resources as needed

– Task order concept for engagements of 3 to 9 months

– General contractor will be expected to subcontract much of the work

• Hope to have an RFP on the street in August



Skill Level

Skill set

Entry Intermed Advanc Expert

System Engineers experienced in VMware virtualization with VCP5 Certification and/or experience designing and implementing disaster recovery plans in Site Recovery Manager.

X X

Microsoft System Engineer experience managing Windows servers with MCSE 2K8 or higher certification and/or terminal server management experience using Citrix / 2X.

X X

HP-UX System Administrator with current CSA Certification

X X

PC Technician with current A+ certification X X

Technical Support Specialist with an emphasis on mobile technology (i.e. Smart Phones, Tablets) and Google

X X

System Engineer with experience in HP EVA/3PAR SAN environments

X X

Network Engineers with one or more of the following: •Experience managing Enterasys switches and Routers •Experience with 4G LTE router implementation •Experience managing Cisco network equipment with current Cisco CNA certification

X X

Service Desk Specialist with excellent customer service skills and the ability to monitor servers, reset password, etc.

X X

Application Support Specialist able to support ITS software and hardware. Knowledge of Init VBS a plus.

X X

Category 1 (General Skill - Lowest Risk Category)


Skill Level

Skill set


SQL Server Database Administrator with experience setting up and configuring a server farm and security.

X

Web Developers with one or more of the following skills and experience: HTML, ASP, .Net, Java, XML, VbScript, Javascript, Visual Basic, MS Access, MS SQL and Oracle SQL. Experience with Google APIs (Apps, Transit, Geo/Maps) skills a plus.

X X

Crystal Reports Developer with SAP Business Objects and enterprise data management skills

X

Mobile Application Developer (Android, iOS) with understanding and experience using HTML 5.0

X

MS Project Server 2010/2013 Consultant experienced in the installation, setup, and configuration of the software

X

PMO Consultant with experience implementing standards and supporting processes

X

IT Project Manager with demonstrated ability to lead various sized software and infrastructure implementation projects

X

Business Analyst with strong process analysis and design skills

X X

ITSM Consultant with demonstrated ability to implement ITIL best practices and processes.

X X

Category 2 (Specialized Skill - medium risk category)


Skill Level

Skill set


Lawson Financials Consultant with detailed understanding of the setup and configuration of the Grants, Budget, and General Ledger modules as well as the data relationships and dependencies between the modules.

X X

Lawson HR Consultant with demonstrated ability to manage upgrade, implementation and business process improvement projects.

Lawson Payroll Consultant with strong business process design and improvement skills.

Lawson Procurement/Supply Chain Consultant with demonstrated ability to manage upgrade, implementation business and business process improvement projects. Detailed understanding of Supplier Portal, Strategic Sourcing, Punchout and Contract Management.

Lawson Technical Consultant with development skills in Process Flow Integrator/Business Process Automation, Lawson BI to include Smart Notifications and Dashboards, and other toolsets.

X X

Lawson Systems Consultant with skills in Lawson Systems Administration, upgrades, WebSphere, and configuration of Portal and End Points

Category 3 – Premium Specialty Skills – High Risk Category


Trapeze System Administrator/Consultant experienced in the setup and configuration of Bus Stop Manager, Info, Plan, FX, and OPS with detailed understanding about security and the database schema. Strong analytical skills with the ability to troubleshoot trip plans and schedule data as well as debug Trapeze logs.

X X

IBM FileNet Consultant experienced in system design and deployment for multi-revision upgrades and/or migration to other electronic document management systems.

X

IBM Cognos Business Intelligence Developers with Cognos BI v10.2 experience with the following modules: Framework Manager, Data Manager, Query Studio, Report Studio, Analysis Studio

X

Trapeze ITS (Transitmaster) Consultant

X

GIS Consultant with the ability to work in a map network environment

X

Security Video Management Integration Consultant experienced in large-scale deployment of mobile and stationary cameras

X X

Traffic Engineer with advanced traffic signal controller design and operation experience, traffic signal simulation experience, knowledge of Advanced Signal Controller (ASC) hardware and Software,

X

ITS Technical Project Manager familiar with the Traffic Signal Priority (TSP), INIT Vehicle Business System (VBS), and Camera implementation

X X

ITS Technician with solid understanding of electrical and communication engineering and experience with detectors, cameras, knowledge of IR detection and What’s Up Gold network management a plus

X X

Communications Engineer (Fiber / 802.11 switches) with understanding of electrical as well as network design

X X

Concluding Points • Public transit is an important asset for the 4th largest SMA,

with economic impact exceeding $10 bn

• More comprehensive application of technology will improve the rider experience and potentially increase ridership

• Technology will improve interoperability of different modes of transportation

• Technology will increase productivity and deliver information to Agency management, including on mobile devices

• The technology department challenge is to maintain pace with the rapid changes in technology to deliver lower costs and improved rider experience while protecting investments.


END

Allan Steele

[email protected]


technology at dallas area rapid transit at dallas area rapid transit allan ... • providing project...

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