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A MapA Map--Based Transit Based Transit Itinerary PlannerItinerary Planner

Chris CherryChris CherryUniversity of Arizona

Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

Anirudh Anirudh GargGargUniversity of Arizona

Department of Computer Science

Dr. Mark HickmanDr. Mark HickmanUniversity of Arizona

Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

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Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Current Schedule System and Goals of the ProjectIdentify Existing Trip Planning TechnologySoftware and Data RequirementsWebsite DevelopmentWebsite CustomizationIntegration of a Routing AlgorithmFinal Output

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Current Bus SystemCurrent Bus System

SunTran Transit Agency– Operated by City of Tucson– 37 Bus Routes– 2400 Bus Stops– 197 Square Miles of Service– 60,000 Passengers Served Daily– Operate a Call-Center Trip Planner– Provide printed brochures and static web pages

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SunTran Information (Static)SunTran Information (Static)

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LimitationsLimitations

Complex schedule informationComplicated transfer planningMap difficult to decipherMap not to scaleNo interactive capabilitiesNo information on non-transit features

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GoalsGoals

Improve the service provided to transit ridersTransit Trip planning through the InternetProvide state-of-the-practice trip planning functionality Provide point-and-click capabilityDisplay an interactive mapGIS provides the tools to create an interactive trip planning website

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User Opens Browser

User Enters an Address

User Selects a Landmark

User Clicks on the Map

System Queries the Parcel File for Text String Matches and Selects the

Matching Parcel

For the Origin

System Creates ¼ Mile Buffer, Identifying all Bus Stops Surrounding the Selected

Parcel

Same Procedure for the For the Destination

Those Bus Stops are Sent to the Routing Algorithm

The User Selects the Time They Would Like to Leave the Origin

Routing Algorithm Find the Shortest Time Path Between the Origin Stops

and Destination Stops

The Shortest Path Directions are Described and the Bus Route(s) is

Highlighted on the Map

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Current Planners (Text Based)Current Planners (Text Based)Orange County Transportation Authority

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Current Planners (Text Based)Current Planners (Text Based)Orange County Transportation Authority

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Current Planners (Map Based)Current Planners (Map Based)Montreal Transit

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Current Planners (Map Based)Current Planners (Map Based)Montreal Transit

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ArcIMS 4.0ArcIMS 4.0

ArcIMS 4.0 utilized for this projectArcIMS 4.0 consists of three components:

1) ArcIMS Author-Develops maps2) ArcIMS Administrator-Creates map services3) ArcIMS Designer-Designs Browser Interface

Spatial Data provided by the Pima County Land Information System (PCLIS)Spatial Data Provided in *.shp format

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Spatial DataSpatial Data

Routing Requirements– Parcels, Bus Stops, Bus Routes

Intermodal Features– Major/Minor Street Network, Park & Ride Lots, Bike Routes

Landmarks– Schools, Hospitals, Libraries, Malls & Colleges, Post Offices,

Trails, Lakes, Parks

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Temporal DataTemporal Data

SunTran’s schedule data usedSchedule information is only provided at time points Updated every three monthsAll buses are equipped with Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) equipmentArchived AVL data aids in determining schedule adherence and travel time probabilities

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ArcIMS AuthorArcIMS Author

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ArcIMS AdministratorArcIMS Administrator

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ArcIMS DesignerArcIMS Designer

Allows developer to design a customizable browserJava vs. HTML Browsers– Java has more tools– Java is more customizable– HTML does not require a Java Plug-in– HTML runs faster

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Basic HTML BrowserBasic HTML Browser

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Customizing Basic ViewerCustomizing Basic Viewer

Want to make the interface user friendlyCustomized by modifying the viewer.htm fileEliminated framesCombined framesMaximized map frameDeleted unnecessary tools from the toolbarChanged tool buttons to make more intuitive

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Customizing Basic ViewerCustomizing Basic Viewer

Created a form for the user to input dataFor the origin and destination– Enter an address– Point to a location on the map– Select from a list of landmarks

For the time– Enter the time– Select am or pm– Select weekday, Saturday, or Sunday

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Modified ViewerModified Viewer

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Customizing Analysis ToolsCustomizing Analysis Tools

Buffer tool used to find bus stops– This tool finds all features within a certain distance– ArcIMS form too complex for average users– Hardcode buffer parameters

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Customizing Analysis ToolsCustomizing Analysis Tools

Providing address search functionality– Use the built-in query functionality– Requires exact address matching to the database– Built in form too complex for average users– Hardcode query function into the form– Buffer runs after parcel is queried

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Customizing Analysis ToolsCustomizing Analysis Tools

Providing landmark search functionality– Similar process used as address search– Use the built-in query functionality– User selects from a list of landmarks– Hardcode query function into the form– Buffer runs after parcel is queried

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Customizing Analysis ToolsCustomizing Analysis Tools

Point-and-Click functionality– Use the built-in select by rectangle tool– Parcel layer must be active and visible for this application– User selects a point on the map– Address of selected parcel is inserted into the appropriate

field– The buffer function runs on approval of the address

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PointPoint--andand--Click DisplayClick Display

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Capture Bus StopsCapture Bus Stops

Buffer function selects bus stops dataA CGI program was written in C to capture those unique stop ID numbersThose ID numbers are then sent to the routing algorithmPerformed for the origin and the destination

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Bus Stops to Time PointsBus Stops to Time Points

There is only information for time pointsThe origin bus stops reference the preceding time pointThe destination stops reference the following time pointThose time point ID numbers are sent to the routing algorithm

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Routing AlgorithmRouting Algorithm

Uses time point ID numbers to find shortest pathForward search routing algorithm– Finds optimum route based on time– Starts at the origin and works toward the destination

Picks optimum set of routes based on distribution of travel times

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Final Output Final Output

Program displays output from routing algorithmText directions– Include bus stop descriptions– Bus route numbers– Time of arrival– Transfer directions

Performs a query on the bus routes to display highlighted routes on the map

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Final DisplayFinal Display

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Conclusions Conclusions

Created a unique map-based itinerary systemAllows user to enter address, landmark or select a point on the mapUsed existing ArcIMS functionality to pull out required dataOutput given in the form of text directions and a highlighted route map

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Future ImprovementsFuture Improvements

Optimize processing timeScale down much of the GIS dataDevelop personalized system that stores user profilesProvide more optimum path options – Backward finding algorithm– Minimum transfers– Minimum walk time

Display a point-to-point map

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Questions?Questions?