An Overview of the Basic Concept of myAvail's CAD/AVL System
CAD is Computer Aided Dispatching and AVL is Automatic Vehicle Location. The heart of all CAD/AVL systems is the ability to tell when reality is deviating from the plan. The plan is the service that the property intends to provide. The components of a complete service description for myAvail is covered in Fixed Route Schedule Data Input/Modification Process.
Avail supports either the importation of schedule data from 3rd party scheduling packages or the direct entry of schedule data from our Fleet-Net® product. After myAvail knows what should happen based on the service schedule, the system needs to know what is happening in real time. The Global Positioning System (GPS) in the vehicle provides that type of data.
Combining schedule information and GPS data from the vehicle allows the system to inform operators about their schedule adherence, indicate whether they are on-route, maintain the correct values for the Destination sign and farebox, make ADA announcements, and associate passenger boards and alights with the appropriate stops.
The real-time vehicle information allows dispatchers to know the vehicles’ schedule adherence, how many passengers are on the vehicle, and whether the vehicle deviates from the planned route. These abilities allow operators and dispatchers to understand what is happening in real-time and to react before minor issues become serious problems. Further analyses of these data allow staff to plan a ridership service that maximizes efficiency.
How and When is myAvail Configuration Altered?
During system installation, Avail sets all system parameters to initial values that are worked out with the implementation team. Some parameters can be adjusted after Avail and the property conduct the Initial Assessment Test. Continuing adjustments can occur through the Pilot and 30 Day Operational Test. However, the configuration parameters usually remain static after Avail installs and activates the system unless the property requires a specific change.
Avail can also adjust myAvail’s configuration during the Follow-on Adoption Support & Training (FAST). The Support and Maintenance Agreement covers the adjustment of configuration files. Avail STRONGLY recommends having Avail Support make all parameter adjustments.
Managing User Credentials in myAvail
User credentials in our application can be managed two ways:
- In-app accounts that existed before - This would be user creation using our Personnel tab
- Accounts with Azure Active Directory
Single Sign On is an authentication scheme that allows a user to log in with a single ID to several related yet independent software systems. In our case it allows a user to log in with a single ID to ETMS application. SSO allows myAvail to leverage the existing customer’s Azure Directory like domain, security, and password management features (password expiration and strength, logon attempts, multi factor).
Best Practice: Depending on Agency policy, if you want to enforce SSO for all users – leave the password field empty when creating new personnel and/or update existing user's password to a value unknown by the user if you want to enforce SSO for existing users.
Prerequisites
- Your ETMS user email must match email in your Agency’s Active Directory
- There cannot be multiple active users with the same email address
- Customer must have an Azure AD
- Agency will have to provide Avail with their Tenant ID (Directory ID)
- Multi factor is enabled and controlled at the Agency level
- Password expiration, reset, failed logon attempts are controlled at the Agency level
Steps
Go to the ETMS log in page. Click on the Login with Azure button.
Microsoft login page will appear where the user can enter their email address:
Clicking Next will lead the user to the user agency’s official company screen.
Here the user can enter their password and click Sign In.
If there is a multi-authentication setup, then a user will get the following request for approval.
After approving the request, the following page will show asking if the user wants to stay signed in.
The user can check the Don’t show this again check-box and click Yes to stay signed it and thus reduce the number of times they are asked to sign in. Or can choose No to sign in every time.
After this the system will redirect the user to the ETMS application.