Technology for improved Public Bus Transport

Nicolas: The system is much different in Paris because the transport route is owned by the government and most of the systems have been financed by the government though obviously it is not the same system. We do not have the banks. But you are talking about the SLA and make sure it is not only towards the SLA but it is also towards the open system and not dependent on one supplier because most of the time you arrive with one supplier and then maybe he would give you a good price. But after a year, when you want to change, it may be difficult. In the beginning itself we need to have high expectation, give high specifications and make sure that the system is reopened for the next buyers to install a system that would work with the previous one.

Ashar: There is an opportunity for that to evolve. I hope, in the coming times, we see, different models reap the benefits of technology in operational efficiency.

How do we effectively use the data that we collect by use of technology in improving operational efficiency? How can we use the data in rationalising routes?

Nicolas: If you collect data, then you need to ask people who use the data? So make sure that you do not have three buses arriving at the same time at the shelter and then you do not have a bus for half an hour. So obviously, once you have these fleet management that is working, you need to ask people to use this data to make sure that the bus driver stops or to moves forward or puts more buses in the line because he knows that people are waiting at the bus shelter.

As we are the ticketing system operator in Paris, we have to send every day all the data that we have collected from the station to the client and to the STU. STU uses this data to adjust transport offer and adjust the fleet as per the travel demand. You need to have within the STU the experience and the people who are waiting for buses because most of the time you rely on the consultants who may have the experience but having right people who are trained and who are aware of what are the benefits of the data within the organization helps in bettering your transport system.

Kohli: I would just add on that because this is something which we have seen happening in London quite extensively. Transport for London has invested heavily on collating all the data sources that the systems are generating into what is referred to as the GTFS, which is a globally accepted data interchange template. Every data – from cycle usage, tube usage, train usage, every bus usage schedules, timings or number of people – is put up and that is where TfL invests in. Just creating that investment has resulted in 500 apps now using that data. And TfL hasn’t invested a penny on any of those apps. TfL doesn’t have its own bus timing app, there are several other providers. This country has tremendous software development potential with a lot of young talented people. The public sector needs to invest in creating that source and maintaining that source of data which can then be built upon by these young, clever software professionals who can deliver solutions specifically for their universities, campuses, or employers, whatever solutions they find.

Data plays a very important role because that is where you start off with. Only when you know you have the right data, you can at least suggest ways to optimize the operations.

– Yashas Bhargav