This application uses Avail Technologies' InfoPoint API endpoints to show departures for specified stops. It was written by UMass Transit IT for use by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. The application is intended for use on monitors and kiosks located at bus stops.

Deployment

This application is entirely client-side, which means that all you need to deploy it is a web browser capable of being full-screen. GitHub pages is enabled on the master branch of this repository, which means that you can use it by simply pointing a browser at http://umts.github.io/BusInfoBoard/. Alternatively, you can host a copy of the code on any web server capable of serving static files, or even keep a copy of the code as a local file on your kiosk device.

If you would like to use this site with an Avail transit agency other than PVTA, you will need to edit the url in main.js to point to your installation of InfoPoint.

Configuration

Configuration can be done in two ways: by using query strings in the request url, or by passing a URL where a configuration JSON file lives. If both methods are used, query string parameters take precedence.

Query String

• ?title=Bus%20Departures specifies what title should appear at the top of the page, if any.
• ?stops=1+2+3 specifies the list of stops by stop id that you would like to see information for. The list is plus (+) separated.
• ?routes=B43+30 specifies a subset of routes that you would like to see information for. This list is also plus (+) separated. If no routes are specified, then the page displays all routes.
• ?excluded_trips=Bus%20Garage%20via%20Mass%20Ave+Bus%20Garage%20via%20Compsci specifies a subset of InternetServiceDescs that you would not like to see information for. This list is also plus (+) separated.
• ?sort=time changes the order that departures are displayed to be by departure time. The default is alphabetically by ShortName.
• ?interval=30 specifies how frequently to update the display in seconds. The default value is 30 seconds.
• ?work_day_start=4 specifies the hour on which the agency's service day changes. This is mostly used in dealing with DST changes, and as such, you should avoid hours less than 3. The default is 4.
• ?start_animation=someAnimation specifies which animation to use when adding route times to the page. You can choose from any of the animation names available in animate.css, but it should probably be an "entrance" animation; the default animation is fadeInDown.
• ?end_animation=someAnimation specifies which animation to use when clearing the display for refresh. This should probably be an "exit" animation; the default is fadeOut.
• ?alternate_interval=3 specifies how frequently the display should alternate between displaying the time of a departure, and the relative time (e.g. 3 min). The minimum value is 1 second, and the maximum value is half the refresh interval. The default value is 3 seconds.
• ?disable_alternation=true allows you to disable the alternation between absolute and relative time.
• ?default_time_display=interval allows you to configure what the starting time display will be. Accepted values are 'interval' for relative time, and 'time' for absolute time. If alternation is disabled, this is the only time which will display.
• ?show_messages=[yes,no,only] allows you to configure whether public alert messages are shown when they apply to the routes serviced by the stop(s) in question. 'yes' shows messages in addition to departure times; 'no' does not, and 'only' shows only messages, not departures.

Config URL

All of the same parameters can be passed via config URL. Set the config_url variable in main.js to point to a JSON-formatted configuration file. For example:

{
  "routes": ["B43", "30"],
  "interval": 30000,
  "excluded_trips": ["Bus Garage via Mass Ave", "Bus Garage via Compsci"]
}

Examples

All 7 Holyoke Transportation Center Gates:

http://umts.github.io/BusInfoBoard/?stops=9098+9097+9096+9089+9088+9087+9086

UMass campus shuttle at ILC and Morrill:

http://umts.github.io/BusInfoBoard/?stops=64+63&routes=34+35

All buses at the Academy of Music, ordered by departure time:

http://umts.github.io/BusInfoBoard/?stops=261&sort=time

Haigis Mall with more "flair" :

http://umts.github.io/BusInfoBoard/?stops=73&interval=5&start_animation=bounceIn&end_animation=rotateOutUpRight