Challenges and resolutions in the implementation of the decision support system for accessible transport

Information technology (IT) plays a critical role in the daily operations of modern businesses. However, there are many challenges in the implementation of information systems in order to have an effective and efficient use of IT. Many theoretical and technological advances provide excellent promise for improved performance of many companies by providing enhanced decision support; however, real?world implementation still face many obstacles, for instance, handling dynamic changes at run time. In this paper, we describe our experience in the development of the Rehabus Information Management System (RIMS) for Hong Kong Society of Rehabilitation. We present the main issues in the development of the decision support system for accessible transport, emphasizing on the major functions of the system, the challenges in routing and scheduling, the application of digital maps, geographic information system and global positioning system, the handling of emergency as well as the significance in the reports and statistics generation. The aim of the paper is to provide some guidance for other developers who are trying to implementation similar decision support systems for transportation services.