A Rural Transit Vehicle Management System and Condition Predictor Model

Abstract

In an ongoing effort to improve mobility and quality of life for Alabama ‘s citizens, a computer database system has been developed to improve the States ability to manage and assess the condition of its rural transit fleet. The development of this management program consisted of a physical inspection of all state-owned vehicles. Upon completion of the physical inventory, the research team developed a vehicle inventory database to track Alabama s public transit vehicles and a data model to predict the condition of individual vehicles. The prediction model is presented as a tool to allow the State Department of Transportation to assign an individual vehicle condition rating for each vehicle, without the cost of a physical inventory. This vehicle rating is intended to support the equitable acquisition and disposal of vehicles reflecting the varied roadway conditions and socioeconomic conditions found statewide.