Using Geographic Information Systems and the World Wide Web for Interactive Transit Trip Itinerary Planning Brian Smith Center for Transportation Studies University of Virginia

Center for Transportation Studies Presentation Outline u Importance of Transit Information u Traditional Approaches u Itinerary Planning Functions u Design Case Study u Lessons Learned u Conclusions

Center for Transportation Studies Transit Information u Markets the system u Facilitates system use u Information must be: accessible easy to use “attractive” (perceptions)

Center for Transportation Studies Route/Schedule Information u Fundamental u Traditional approaches Printed Brochures Telephone Service

Center for Transportation Studies Printed Brochures u Strengths Portable Graphic Little staff support required u Weaknesses No itinerary selection support Static

Center for Transportation Studies Telephone Service u Strengths Interactive Direct itinerary selection support u Weaknesses Cost Availability (geographic and temporal) No graphics

Center for Transportation Studies Trip Itinerary Planning u Relatively complex process u Printed Brochures Search must be completed by customer u Telephone Service Verbal results only u Key Decisions Spatial Temporal

Center for Transportation Studies Spatial Decisions u Determine set of stops accessible from origin Distance Impediments u Determine set of stops accessible from destination u What combinations are feasible given route structure?

Center for Transportation Studies Temporal Decisions u Multiobjective Preferred time of departure Preferred time of arrival Minimize total trip time u “Special” service adds to complexity Peak “express” service Weekend schedules

Center for Transportation Studies Problem Formulation Minimimze:Total Trip Time Subject To: Spatial Constraints Temporal Constraints System Constraints

Center for Transportation Studies Geographic Information Systems u Tool that supports the processing of spatial data into information. DeMers u Traditionally used for planning applications in public transportation u Key Features Spatial analysis (buffers, overlays, etc.) Integration with database management system

Center for Transportation Studies World Wide Web u Global information distribution u Unprecedented growth u High degree of interactivity u Flexibility u Graphical user interface

Center for Transportation Studies GIS & WWW u Until recently, little to no integration u New products allow the use of the WWW as the “user interface” to GIS u Current applications are relatively simple Serving static maps Limited degree of interactivity

Center for Transportation Studies Design Case Study -- Pentran u Prototype trip itinerary planner accessible via WWW. u Primary software tools: VisualBasic MapObjects (Internet Map Server) Access u Pentran drove requirements development

Center for Transportation Studies Development Approach u Traditional public transportation GIS applications use “scientific discovery” method. u Transit trip itinerary planner required a structured software development approach Waterfall Rapid prototyping

Center for Transportation Studies Prototype Design u Rapid prototyping Allows for early determination if software tools support performance requirements Tangible early results u Study team is nearing the end of the process u Current design document

Center for Transportation Studies Lessons Learned u Detailed design is critical u Database structure importance u Design for maintenance

Center for Transportation Studies Design - Origin Input

Center for Transportation Studies Prototype - Origin Input

Center for Transportation Studies Conclusion u GIS/WWW software can support time- critical public transportation operations applications. u Requires structured software development approach u Potential to provide a very useful trip itinerary planning tool