Posts tagged APC
Data driven enhancement of public transport planning and operations: service reliability improvements and ridership predictions
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and smartcard data are of great value in planning, design and operations of public transport. We developed a transport demand model, which utilizes smartcard data for overall and what-if analyses, by converting these data into passengers per line and OD-matrixes and allowing network changes on top of a base scenario. This new generation model serves in addition to the existing range of transport demand models and approaches. It proved itself in practice during a case study in The Hague, where it helped the operator gain valuable insights into the effect of small network changes, such as a higher frequency.
Data also supports measures to improve service reliability. We introduced a new network design dilemma, namely the length of a transit line vs. its reliability. Long lines offer many direct connections, thereby saving transfers. However, the variability in operation is often negatively related to the length of a line, leading to poorer schedule adherence and additional waiting time for passengers. A data driven case study shows that in the case of long lines with large variability, enhanced reliability resulting from splitting the line could result in less additional travel time. This advantage compensates for the additional time of transferring if the transfer point is well chosen.
Read the full paper here: TRA Conference 2016 Van Oort Data driven enhancement of PT
or check the poster: TRA2016 Conference Poster
New generation of public transport models: predicting ridership by smartcard data
In the public transport industry we observe the rise of a new generation of transport demand models. We applied Dutch smart card data for analysis of passenger volumes and routing and performed what-if analyses by using existing transport planning software. We focused specifically on public transport operators by providing them relative simple (easy to build, low calculation time) models to perform these what-if analyses. The data, including transfer information, is converted to passengers per line and an OD-matrix between stops. This matrix is assigned to the network to reproduce the measured passenger flows. After this step, what-if analysis becomes possible. The effects of line changes on route choice can already be investigated when fixed demand is assumed. However, by introducing an elastic demand model the realism of the modeled effects is improved, because network changes induce changes in level of service, which affects the demand for public transportation. This elastic demand model was applied on a case study in The Hague. We imported the smart card data into a transport model and connected the data with the network. The tool turned out to be very valuable for the operator to gain insights into the effects of small network changes.
In addition to this basic model, we also applied a capacity constrained assignment method. The most important aspects on which passengers base their choice for public transport travelling are the perceived travel time, costs, reliability and comfort. Despite this importance, comfort is often not explicitly considered when predicting demand. The case study results indicate that not considering capacity and comfort effects can lead to a substantial underestimation of effects of certain measures aiming to improve public transport. This means that benefits of measures that reduce crowding for both passengers and operators can now be quantified and incorporated in the decision-making process. We also illustrate that this extended modelling framework can be applied in practice, requiring short calculation times and leading to better predictions of public transport demand.
Find our ETC 2015 presentation HERE
Improving public transport decision making, planning and operations by using Big Data: Cases from Sweden and the Netherlands
New big data (sources) in the public transport industry enable to deal with major challenges such as elevating efficiency, increasing passenger ridership and satisfaction and facilitate the information flow between service providers and service users. This paper presents two actual cases from the Netherlands and Sweden in which automated data sources were utilized to support the planning and operational processes. The cases illustrate the benefits of using smartcard and vehicle positioning data. Due to the data (processing), valuable insights were gained helping to make the right choices and improve the public transport system.
Read our paper: Workshop paper IEEE ITSC 2015 and check our presentation: Presentation IEEE ITSC15
Urban Mobility Lab: benut databerg
CROW-KpVV hield op 28 mei in Utrecht de eerste landelijke kennisdag over het benutten van data in het openbaar vervoer. Het delen van data levert veel op, maar is nog geen gemeengoed. Tijdens de bijeenkomst stond onder andere het Urban Mobility Lab in de schijnwerpers: een proeftuin vol data over vervoerpatronen in Amsterdam.
Lees het hele artikel: Urban Mobility Lab in OV Magazine
Short term ridership prediction in public transport by processing smart card data
Public transport operators are exposed to massive data collection from their smart card systems. In the Netherlands, every passenger needs to check in and to check out, resulting in detailed information on the demand pattern. In buses and trams, checking in and checking out takes place in the vehicle, providing good information on route choice. This paper explores options for using this smart card data for analysis and performing what-if analyses by using transport planning software. This new generation of transport demand models, based on big data, is an addition to the existing range of transport demand models and approaches. The intention is to provide public transport operators with a simple (easy to build) model to perform these what-if analyses. The data is converted to passengers per line and an OD-matrix between stops. This matrix is assigned to the network to reproduce the measured passenger flows. After this step, what-if analysis becomes possible. With fixed demand, line changes can be investigated. With the introduction of an elastic demand model, changes in level of service realistically affect passenger numbers. This method was applied on a case study in The Hague. We imported the smart card data into a transport model and connected the data with the network. The tool turned out to be very valuable for the operator to gain insights into the effect of small changes.
Read the paper: TRB 2015
Betere OV prognoses met anonieme OV-Chipkaartdata
Door de introductie van de OV-Chipkaart komen er grote hoeveelheden data over reizigersstromen in het OV beschikbaar. Naast data over de voertuigprestaties (via GOVI bijv.) hebben de inzichten uit deze reizigersdata een enorm potentieel voor de optimalisatie van het OV-product. Dit artikel verkent de mogelijkheden om, de privacy van reizigers respecterend, deze data in te zetten voor de voorspelling van nieuwe reispatronen bij aanpassingen in het netwerk en/of de dienstregeling. Het doel is om een relatief eenvoudige “What-if”-methodiek te ontwerpen, die snel en voldoende nauwkeurig reizigersprognoses kan maken. Hiermee ontstaat een nieuwe generatie verkeersmodellen.
De aanpak combineert de eenvoud en snelheid van de “sigarenkist” en de visualisatie- en rekenkracht van een verkeersmodel. We hebben de methodiek ingebed in bestaande OmniTRANS-verkeersmodelsoftware. De anonieme OV-chipkaartdata wordt toegedeeld aan het OV netwerk in het model, waardoor huidige stromen gevisualiseerd kunnen worden. Door gebruik te maken van elasticiteiten over de relatie tussen OV-kwaliteit en OV-gebruik (zowel uit de literatuur als op basis van gangbare vuistregels) kunnen eenvoudige prognoses gemaakt worden. Die dienen bijvoorbeeld om inzicht te krijgen in inkomstenderving door omleidingen of om effecten te schatten van budgettaire maatregelen.
We hebben de gepresenteerde methodiek succesvol toegepast op het tramnetwerk van HTM in Den Haag, waarmee sneller en nauwkeurige dan voorheen prognoses gemaakt kunnen worden. Voor het afwegen van scenario’s in de ontwikkeling van het railnetwerk en bij het afwegen van tijdelijke omleidingsscenario’s gebruikt HTM de aanpak inmiddels om reizigerseffecten te prognosticeren. Deze analyses helpen in het maken van betere keuzes en in het besluitvormingsproces met de OV-autoriteit Haaglanden.
Hoewel waardevol, zijn er ook een aantal beperkingen aan deze methode. De aanpak is unimodaal en door het gebruik van elasticiteiten slechts toepasbaar voor kleine veranderingen op relatief korte termijn. Nu met de OV-Chipkaartdata meer inzichten kunnen worden verkregen, raden wij aan de gehanteerde elasticiteiten te actualiseren. Gedrag van reizigers bij kleine veranderingen kan relatief eenvoudig bepaald worden nu deze data voorhanden is. De volgende stap in ons onderzoek is het koppelen van de reizigersdata aan de voertuigdata, waardoor gedetailleerdere analyses gemaakt kunnen worden van bijvoorbeeld reizigerspunctualiteit.
Lees meer:
Paper CVS2014 of Presentatie
Data driven optimisation of public transport
Presentation at EMTA meeting at TfL in London:
Feedforward mechanisms in public transport; How data improves service quality and increases efficiency.
Find the presentation HERE
International Workshop on Utilizing Transit Smart Card Data for Service Planning
Collecting fares through “smart cards” is becoming standard in most advanced public transport networks of major cities around the world. Using such cards has advantages for users as well as operators. Whereas for travellers smartcards are mainly increasing convenience, operators value in particular the reduced money handling fees. Smartcards further make it easier to integrate the fare systems of several operators within a city and to split the revenues. The electronic tickets also make it easier to create complex fare systems (time and space differentiated prices) and to give incentives to frequent or irregular travellers.
Less utilised though appear to be the behavioural data collected through smartcard data. The records, even if anonymous, allow for a much better understanding of passengers’ travel behaviour as various literature has begun to demonstrate. This information can be used for better service planning.
First International Workshop on Utilizing Transit Smart Card Data for Service Planning; 2nd – 3rd July, 2014; Gifu, Japan
My contribution to the workshop: Short term public transport modelling using smart card data
Beter ov met chipkaartdata en verkeersmodel
Tariefacties, haltes samenvoegen, nieuwe routes, rijtijden optimaliseren. Overheden en vervoerders zijn continu op zoek naar slimme oplossingen voor beter en efficiënter ov. Verkeersmodellen gevoed door anonieme chipkaartdata blijken uitermate effectief.
Lees het hele artikel: OV Magazine 2014
Big data opportunities to enhance public transport
New promising Big Data sources are becoming available in the Public Transport industry, via for instance Intermodal Transport Control Systems (ITCS). This data provides insights into both passenger flows and vehicle performance and is of great help to optimize public transport services. The data enables to evaluate ridership and compare it with use of other modes as car and bike traffic. In addition, whatif- predictions are possible to gain insights into expected level of cost coverage, service and ridership and to finally optimize the services.
Read more: ITCS and Big Data (IT TRANS2014)