S-112-V1-EN

When importing data into Optibus from other systems, one of the first required actions is to make sure that the data was imported properly and in full.

This article will give you an overview of the following:

Optibus terminology: platform time, revenue time, deadhead time and distance, depot pull time, layover, and attendance.
How to use Optibus stats to make data validations
Reports in Optibus to validate your data

Definitions for vehicle events

Platform Time - the time the vehicle is being operated from the moment it leaves the depot. The following events are included as part of the platform time:

Pull-out
Service trip
Deadhead
Layover time (includes attendance)
Pull-In

Sign-on and sign-off events are not included in the platform time since they are driver-related and do not apply to a vehicle.

You can observe the platform time in the stats, as follows:

Revenue Time - the time where the vehicle is in service, i.e., is performing a service trip for passengers. Also known as revenue/service hours. Excludes pull-out, pull-in, deadhead, and layover/attendance hours. Calculated for each vehicle, for each route, and for the system as a whole.

Deadhead Time/Distance - the time and distance the bus needs to travel, in places where it does not pick passengers. Deadheading is typically required to get buses to and from their garage, or when bus operators need to travel from one route or point to another during their scheduled workday. Also known as “non-revenue travel”, “empty trips” and “idle trips”.

Deadhead hours include the following events:

Pull out
Pull-in
Deadhead time from one route or point to another.

Depot Pull Time - a subset of deadhead time, referring only to pull-ins and pull-outs from the depot.

Layover Time - the time between the scheduled arrival and departure of a vehicle at a transit terminal. Includes attendance of a vehicle.

Platform Time is the sum of Revenue Time, Deadhead Time, and Layover Time.

Attendance - being present on the vehicle, i.e. not leaving the bus unattended.

Using stats to validate your schedule

When creating a new vehicle schedule, add the events described above using Optibus stats in order to ensure these events match your existing schedule.
Use the Sum function in order to calculate the total hours for the relevant event

Using reports to validate your schedule

Click on "Export Current Service" or "Export All Services". You will receive a .zip file to download. Unpack the .zip file. In it, you will find multiple files of different types, among them several Excel files.