Visualizing public transit system operation with GTFS data: A case study of Calgary, Canada

Area of Science:

• Transportation Science
• Data Visualization
• Urban Planning

Background:

• Public transit agencies generate high-volume, high-velocity data.
• General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) is a key open dataset for transit information.
• Existing visualization tools often lack dynamic, interactive, and comprehensive analysis capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel visualization tool, PubtraVis, for analyzing GTFS data.
• To display spatial and temporal patterns of transit services dynamically.
• To provide a platform for qualitative insights into transit system operations.

Main Methods:

• Development of PubtraVis with six distinct visualization modules (mobility, speed, flow, density, headway, analysis).
• Utilized GTFS data from Calgary Transit as a case study.
• Incorporated a user experience study to evaluate usability and utility.

Main Results:

• PubtraVis effectively visualizes transit system operational characteristics.
• The tool enables side-by-side module comparison for in-depth analysis.
• User feedback indicated PubtraVis is useful and easy to adopt.

Conclusions:

• PubtraVis offers a valuable tool for understanding transit network dynamics at a glance.
• The tool can enhance communication among transit operators, city authorities, and the public.
• Facilitates informed public transit planning and operational decision-making.