Ready or Not, Big Data Is Coming to a City (Transportation Agency) Near You

For public transportation agencies, Big Data – particularly floating traveller data (FTD) – opens up a world of possibilities. FTD locates travellers using signals from mobile phones, GPS, and/or Bluetooth systems. Traveller location, speed, and direction of travel are aggregated, producing high-quality travel information in real-time. In recent years, sample sizes have increased, technologies have improved, and analytics have become more sophisticated, making FTD an affordable and reliable source of information. Using FTD, agencies can track vehicle travel patterns, volumes and speeds across the full network. Information on pedestrians and cyclists is not far behind. Agencies can use FTD data to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service provision, and to develop new services that meet users’ needs. Applications include: analyzing system performance; planning transportation infrastructure; evaluating operational interventions; conducting active traffic management; forecasting travel conditions; and providing enhanced traveller information systems. At the same time, Big Data will bring new challenges for public transportation agencies, many of whom lack the analytical expertise, baseline investments in IT, and organizational culture required to capture Big Data’s value. This paper discusses the evolution and future directions of travel data in transportation agencies. It illustrates the wide variety of FTD applications and describes how agencies are harnessing FTD to understand and improve transportation system performance. The paper identifies the investments and organizational changes that transportation agencies may need to make to harness the value of Big Data. Finally, it explores the big questions that accompany Big Data and provides recommendations for getting started with Big Data.