4. Data-driven Models and Decision Support Tools for Improved Transit Reliability in Indian Cities

The primary goal of this project is to develop and implement practical decision support tools for Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) under demand variability and operational uncertainty present in Indian cities. The aim of these tools is to assist passengers and operators in selecting decisions for improving transit service and reliability.

The following objectives will be pursued with regard to this broad goal.

• To provide passengers with optimal routes with due consideration of reliability and user preferences
• Investigate the potential of using real-time information for transit demand management by using data-driven models to learn about users’ route choice and provide personalized route guidance.
• Integrate above models into prototypes and field demonstration in selected transit corridors or sub-networks.
• Investigate the use of real-time information for transit demand management and system optimization

The project development will be done by IIT Madras and IISc Bangalore. IIT M will be responsible for the prototype development of optimal passenger transit route guidance system using a mobile app. IISc will be responsible for developing a web based Operational software tool for the transit agencies for evaluating reliability of public transport (buses) through headway management strategies. C-DAC will help IIT M & IISc in developing the software framework for data acquisition, communication interfaces, database management, presentation layer-Mobile App and web page. C-DAC will absorb the technology through continuous interaction with the project team of IIT M and IISc and the knowledge transfer program towards the end of the development.

Expected outcome

• Dynamic database with demand, traffic, transit operational data to support decision-making
• Prototypes for:
• Mobile app for optimal passenger transit route guidance system (PTRGS) based on reliability and other criteria affecting route choice
• Operational software tool for headway reliability improvement (OSHR).
• Methodology and models:
• Transit reliability state estimation and prediction approach
• Demand estimation and forecasting using ITS data
• Algorithms and models for improved reliability from passenger and operator perspectives

• The significant research outcomes that are expected include methodology and models
• Transit reliability state estimation and prediction approach
• Demand estimation and forecasting using real-time ITS data
• Algorithms and models for improved reliability from passenger and operator perspectives

Industry connect

Bus transit agencies in Bangalore (BMTC) and Chennai (MTC) have agreed to provide their ITS data useful for this project. Both agencies plan to improve their ITS systems for real-time tracking of their buses and passenger counts. Such real-time data will be of major use in this project. The research team will work with one of the bus transit agencies to develop methodology, models, algorithms, and prototype decision-support tools. In addition, field demonstrations will also be conducted with the same bus transit agency.