ÖSTGÖTATRAFIKEN
Today, enormous amounts of data generated in public transport is collected, forecasted and visualised with AI. For years, we have worked with Östgötatrafiken for smarter and safer travel, supporting a more sustainable community.
It is as easy as it is complex - we need to use public transport more if we are to lower emissions and reduce our impact on the climate.
If you know there is room on the bus, that the journey is safe, that the bus will turn up on time – and not least, will get there on time – you are more likely to leave your car behind. Today, the enormous amounts of data generated in public transport can be collected, forecasted and visualised with AI.
For several years, Combitech have been working with Östgötatrafiken, Östergötland’s public transport system, for smarter and safer travel throughout this Swedish region.
All Östgtötatrafiken buses are equipped with at least one GPS system, generating a lot of data. By working with it, we can understand what occupancy looks like, but also how traffic flows change during the day, week and year, and how traffic flows interact with drivers and traffic lights.
Combitech was given an assignment by Östgötatrafiken’s BI team: to forecast when its buses will be full – before the timetable is even set. It costs a lot of money to change a timetable.
Underutilised capacity is not good, of course, but if the bus is too full, passengers will simply choose another means of transport. If you can make smarter decisions based on data, it will be better and more comfortable for the traveller – and more cost-effective for the taxpayer.
For our team, the project has involved collecting, cleansing, analysing, packaging and visualising data, and delivering various applications and tools. A large part of this process is to understand the business in depth, so as to deliver answers to questions that may not even be fully formulated from the beginning.
But it has also been about developing an advanced POC (Proof of Concept) so that both the customer and Combitech can learn more about how to apply AI in this type of project.
This is a fun project in so many ways. It is basically about us as travellers being able to trust public transport, so there is a huge positive force on so many different levels. As a developer, I have learnt a lot, not least because we do everything in the cloud.
Combitech has extensive experience of supporting public organisations in their digital journeys, as we did with Östgötatrafiken. We have cutting-edge expertise in system integration and system development, but also niche expertise in information security and risk management.
We have also developed an understanding and knowledge of the national and international regulations that public organisations need to comply with.
Through our close, daily collaboration with public sector organisations, we are able to shape a smarter, more resilient society.
