Development of a Real-Time Public Transportation Open Data Platform with People-Centric Visualizations

The client faces limitations with traditional traffic and vehicle management systems, hindering effective sharing of dynamic transportation data such as vehicle positions and departure times. Existing hardware and software infrastructures restrict direct data dissemination, impeding the development of innovative, user-focused applications and information services for passengers and planners. The need is for a scalable, secure, and open data platform that consolidates static and dynamic transit data for diverse stakeholders.

A mid-sized public transportation authority seeking to enhance data transparency and passenger experience through open data sharing and real-time information systems.

• Implement a centralized data platform capable of storing and managing static and real-time transportation data.
• Enable frequent updates of dynamic data such as vehicle GPS positions and departure estimates with minimal system load.
• Ensure secure, reliable, and scalable data sharing mechanisms to support high volumes of data requests, aiming for hundreds of millions per month.
• Create accessible visualizations and interfaces for web and mobile platforms to improve passenger experience.
• Facilitate integration with third-party applications and planning tools such as mapping and timetable services.
• Achieve high system performance, supporting over 400 million data requests annually without degradation.

• A data storage solution capable of hosting static datasets with infrequent updates, using a data management platform similar to CKAN.
• Real-time data services that provide frequent updates of vehicle GPS positions, departure times, and delays, with APIs for third-party consumption.
• Automated data export mechanisms to sync data from legacy traffic and vehicle management systems.
• Secure access controls and data governance to ensure data integrity and privacy.
• REST and SOAP API endpoints for data retrieval by external systems.
• Visualization tools and web interfaces for displaying timetables, vehicle locations, and delays on desktop and mobile devices.

• Legacy traffic and vehicle management systems for automatic data export.
• Third-party mapping, route planning, and passenger information applications.
• Existing data management platforms (e.g., CKAN) for static data hosting.

• High scalability to support over 400 million data requests annually.
• High availability with minimal downtime.
• Secure data access and transfer, ensuring data privacy and integrity.
• Efficient data update mechanisms supporting real-time information refresh without overloading source systems.
• Responsive performance for web and mobile interfaces.

The implementation is expected to significantly improve passenger experience by providing real-time, accessible transit information, leading to increased user satisfaction and trust. With over 400 million data requests managed annually, the platform will support active third-party application integrations, promote innovative transit solutions, and contribute to smarter urban mobility management. The project will enhance transparency and operational efficiency, fostering a more engaged and informed public transit community.