World Bank Transport Forum Learning Session Leveraging ICT to Support Transport Development OpenPlans/OpenGeo March 30, 2011
OpenGeo & OpenPlans OpenPlans Non-profit technology organization Focus on civic engagement & open government OpenGeo Geospatial division of OpenPlans Global support for open source web mapping and related software
OpenGeo & OpenPlans Active in transportation & transit solutions OpenTripPlanner Open source transit, bike, and pedestrian trip planner for transit agencies Helps citizens navigate, tailor trips to their needs Accessible stations, bringing a bike along, etc.
Clients & Partners Events & Content
Support for data collection OpenPlans/OpenGeo Applications Manage/Process/Organize/Publish data Presenting data to end users
Support for Data Collection World Bank: CAPRA AIFDR: GeoNode for RiaB & TsuDat Service Interface for Real Time Information (SIRI) App to create standard transit information from a smart phone (forthcoming)
OpenGeo Suite GeoNode Manage/Process/ Organize/Publish Data Adds collaboration and Web 2.0 elements
Presenting Data to End Users OpenPlans Transportation Tools System Map Trip Planner Real Time Vehicle Location Other standard outlets Application Protocol Interfaces
An online portal where riders can receive all of your most important route, schedule, transfer, accessibility and service alert information. System Map
Communicating transit schedule, travel, and map information in one standardsbased, affordable package that any agency can use. Trip Planner
Aggregates data from an existing AVL system or integrates with inexpensive inbus hardware to provide up-to-theminute vehicle location information to riders. Real Time Vehicle Location
Transportation Support Applications
Soliciting Public Participation In Transport Service Provision In developing countries transportation is a highly entrepreneurial Public participation is widespread The public are drivers, movers, etc.
Soliciting Public Participation In Transport Service Provision When public participation means nonprofessional/non-commercial participation (carpooling, etc.) Simple digital tools exist to coordinate between passengers and drivers
Soliciting Public Participation In Transport Service Provision Gathering input can use 311-like solutions OpenPlans is coordinating Open311 Different municipal 311 (help/service/issue reporting/q&a lines) can use the same data Applications to make 311 services easier to use can be portable across municipalities SMS interfaces to 311-type services would be simple to develop for focused use cases
Transport Management & Planning In Environments With Limited Resources Vehicle location and routing technology is now cheap and simple to deploy
Transport Management & Planning In Environments With Limited Resources Open source routing, mapping, and vehicle location systems reduce the technology and skill required to track and route vehicles to their destinations These tools can be easily adopted by organizations managing fleets and services
Transport Management & Planning In Environments With Limited Resources Pervasive open data sources like Open Street Map further reduce the cost of deploying digital tools for management and planning Data are free and pervasive and Compatible with open source tools like those that OpenPlans provides
Transport-Related Data Collection Collection of vehicle location data for planning, schedule compliance, or other purposes has become a simple exercise Off-the-shelf GPS units Wireless modems GPS-capable smart phones running apps that send their location to a server or other devices
Transport-Related Data Collection OpenPlans is planning an Android app Will inform a server of the phone's location using the SIRI data standard (an international open standard for real time transit information)
Provision of Timely Information that Could Affect Travel Behavior Knowing the location or arrival time of a transport service is one of the most direct ways of impacting traveler behavior OpenPlans' vehicle location software does this Trip planner software and interactive maps also help passengers make travel decisions that affect their behavior
Provision of Timely Information that Could Affect Travel Behavior These services are available, or will be soon, on mobile devices Including SMS for text-based applications Further improving the timeliness of the information they provide Making it easier for passengers to compare modes based on location, cost, time, or other factors like carbon emissions.
Response to Challenges
Challenge #2: Providing Information to the Public OpenPlans is doing interactive regional system maps for both Seattle and Atlanta, with more to follow Synthesizes the operations of many local agencies into one interactive map Accessible on PCs, and eventually mobile devices In Atlanta the map is being developed in parallel with an updated printed map
Step 1 Challenge #2: Providing Information to the Public To deploy this in an emerging economy environment should set up an online GIS map of the routes and contextual information Requires only modest GIS experience and no investment in proprietary software
Step Two Challenge #2: Providing Information to the Public Assess the possible channels to communicate map information to the public. With PC and smart phone penetration low consideration should be given to ways the map can be frequently reprinted and displayed Public places Where digital displays can be posted
Challenge #2: Providing Information to the Public OpenPlans' vehicle location service in New York City is published as a web page Displayed on monitors at local businesses The public can access the information without having a smart phone or PC handy The MTA does not need to install expensive digital signage. The displays can be customized to carry advertising to defray costs
Challenge #3: Transport Management OpenPlans is researching fixed-route, dynamically dispatched transit services Software acts as a dispatcher to assign passengers and stops to drivers in an efficient way Minimizing stops and travel time Maximizing vehicle and driver utilization Reducing conflict over potential customers.
Challenge #3: Transport Management A service like this requires smart phones in vehicles Play a role similar to a taxi dispatch computer Requires that passengers or stops have a mobile device where they can enter their pick up and drop off locations.
Challenge #3: Transport Management The software (hosted and managed by OpenPlans) would then know: Which vehicles were carrying which passengers Where those vehicles needed to stop Where else they should stop to pick up additional passengers in an efficient sequence
Challenge #3: Transport Management Service has the potential to be More financially sustainable Safer than the competitive jitney business
Edward Pickle epickle@opengeo.org http://opengeo.org http://openplans.org http://opentripplanner.com/