Ridership and Operations Visualization Engine: An Integrated Transit Performance and Passenger Journey Visualization Engine

Abstract

Transit agencies collect a vast amount of data on vehicle positions, passenger loading and, increasingly, origin–destination flows. Collecting and synthesizing these data to support operations and planning are significant challenges and can be constrained by information silos within transit agencies. In this paper, an open-source bus performance and journey visualization dashboard, Ridership and Operations Visualization Engine, is presented, which integrates multiple disparate data sources into a flexible and iterative analysis tool. It differs from existing commercial products by including origin–destination flows along with standard performance metrics, and is designed to be adaptable and relevant to any transit agency. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate the functionality of the dashboard: planning transit priority infrastructure and evaluating network design changes. The dashboard was developed in partnership with Chicago Transit Authority and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and practical details from the installation and maintenance procedures are included for prospective users.

Advancing Transportation and Urban Mobility Optimization: Insights from a Comprehensive Review and Analysis

“…To begin, a comprehensive review of relevant scholarly articles, conference papers, and preprints was conducted. The selected papers mentioned in the literature review section Jiang and Everts, 2021;Caros et al, 2023;Zhang et al, 2022;Mo et al, 2023;Wang et al, 2021) served as the foundation for identifying common themes, research gaps, and opportunities for further exploration.…”

“…Moreover, the research methodology integrated a comparative analysis framework to assess the strengths and limitations of different approaches. This included comparing methodologies employed in the selected papers Jiang and Everts, 2021;Caros et al, 2023;Zhang et al, 2022;Mo et al, 2023;Wang et al, 2021) and evaluating their applicability and effectiveness in addressing research questions related to transportation and urban mobility optimization.…”

“…The authors analyze the potential impacts, infrastructure requirements, and regulatory considerations, offering insights for urban planners and policymakers as they design future transportation networks. Caros et al (2023) introduce the Ridership and Operations Visualization Engine, a tool that integrates transit performance and passenger journey visualization. This research contributes to a better understanding of ridership patterns and operational performance, enabling public transportation agencies to make data-driven decisions for enhancing efficiency and user experience.…”

“…The integration of advanced technologies and data-driven approaches has significantly transformed various domains, including transportation and urban mobility. With the growing challenges of congestion, pollution, and inefficient transportation systems, researchers and practitioners have been exploring innovative solutions to enhance mobility and optimize the utilization of resources Caros et al, 2023).…”

“…The paper by Caros et al (2023) introduces the Ridership and Operations Visualization Engine, an integrated transit performance and passenger journey visualization tool. This research contributes to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public transportation systems by providing a comprehensive understanding of ridership patterns and operational performance.…”