BAR CODING IN MASS TRANSIT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE - FINAL REPORT

This report provides documentation and analysis of the current use of bar coding in mass transit, and the potential for the future expansion of its use. Included are detailed descriptions of numerous bar coding applications in disciplines such as material management, maintenance management, asset management and time and attendance data collection. The intent of this research is to illustrate the wide potential for the use of bar coding in mass transit and to provide transit managers with a technical overview of the technology, a general approach to implementing bar coding and a methodology for evaluating the economic benefits of bar coding. Information for this report was collected from a variety of sources including manufacturers of bar coding systems and equipment, transit properties including both users and non-users of bar coding and users of bar coding outside the transit community. Information was collected through telephone conversations, responses to a survey regarding bar coding use and through site visits to five current users of bar coding. During the course of the research, the investigators revealed that bar coding is currently in use at a number of transit properties but few have achieved its full benefits. Among the non-users, the researchers determined that most have computerized management information systems with the ability to accept bar coded information with little or no modifications. The report includes numerous suggestions and recommendations pertaining to addition of bar coding to these systems. In addition, the report includes an overview of available bar coding technologies to allow those properties developing new systems to fully exploit the capabilities of bar coding. The report also includes information which will allow transit managers to evaluate the applicability of bar coding to their operations and to make estimations of the economic benefits of bar coding for their organizations.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_webdoc_10.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transit Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20418

  Telephonics Corporation

  Huntington, NY  United States 
• Authors:
  • Smith, P J
  • Porterfield, C
• Publication Date: 1996-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 152 p.
• Serial:
  • TCRP Web Document
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Applications; Bar codes; Economic analysis; Economic benefits; Implementation; Management information systems; Public transit; Technology
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Highways; Public Transportation; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00789875
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TCRP Project G-2, FY '92,, Volume 1, Final Report, Volume 2, Guide Book
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 27 2000 12:00AM