Transit Explorer: a bus network analysis tool

The ‘Transit Explorer’ tool is targeted at cities in low-income countries

Abstract

This is a Transport-Technology Research Innovation for International Development (T-TRIID) final report

Cities in developing countries often suffer from informal, overcrowded and inefficient public transport due to poor infrastructure and lack of regulation. Central to making the case for better transport is proper understanding of existing networks, by taking survey data in different formats or analysing timetables to understand which parts of cities are well served and which are underserved or served inefficiently. ITP is developing an online tool that will help Local Transport Authorities to better understand both formal and informal public transit networks in their city, and to help provide the information needed to manage and re-plan the network in a way that best suits the city. The ‘Transit Explorer’ tool is targeted at cities in low-income countries, as city planners in these locations often lack the network knowledge to better coordinate services, and lack the evidence required to design a new regulatory regime that unlocks investment in services and an improvement in standards.

This tool has been developed through funding from the Transport-Technology Research Innovation for International Development (TTRIID) programme, a start-up fund provided by DFID in the UK and designed to help develop new technologies at the early stages of deployment. The software prototype has been developed since October 2018. User testing with a number of expert contacts in developing cities has fed into the design of further features and has identified what additional developments are required to bring the tool to market.

This is an output of the High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme

Citation

Integrated Transport Planning Ltd. (2019) T-TRIID Final Report - Transit Explorer: a bus network analysis tool. Available from: http://transport-links.com/download/t-triid-final-report-transit-explorer-a-bus-network-analysis-tool/

Transit Explorer: a bus network analysis tool

Published 28 October 2019