Why Use Star?
Star is based upon mature technologies – GPS tracking and RFID smartcards. It delivers value by combining their uses through the dedicated STAR website and the driver’s console.
The console comes in two models - a larger screen, permanent fixture or a mobile, Tom Tom- like unit.
STAR allows authorised users to discover a host of operational and strategic information.
Operational information would include validating travel, identifying misbehaviour on the vehicle, the ability to immediately check whether primary school children are exiting at the correct stops, notifying passengers or their carers in advance of delays or the imminent arrival of the vehicle and offering parental access to online, real time information on their bus’s whereabouts – pre-empting telephone calls and disputes about punctuality.
Alerts can also be configured if the bus deviates from a route, is running particularly late or early or displays sudden stops.
Strategic benefits would include automatically generating pre-configured reports to those organisations who need them – thus eliminating layers of data processing and reporting. Also – less dependence on manual on-board verification.
STAR is designed to encourage parents to use the home to school system by offering them a service where they can confirm their children are on the bus and where the bus is online and in real time.
User access is configurable; parents will be able to view only their child’s journey details.
Smartcards do not contain personal details themselves. They act as a reference to details held on a secure server.