Reader response draft #2- "Preventing ‘Bus Bunching’ with Smart Phone Application Implementation”.

In the article “Preventing ‘Bus Bunching’ with Smart Phone Application Implementation”, Dave Sprogis (n.d.) used AnyLogic’s software simulator to prove his claim that limiting “Bus Bunching” would boost the experience of public bus transport users. Sprogis surveyed that the long awaiting time at the bus stop could be eradicated and congestion could be reduced by improving minor setbacks to the bus before a cluster is formed. Sprogis proposed to install a SaaS system knowing that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) had presented an API with real-time bus data could be retrieved for scrutiny. Sprogis shaped an actual route using Geographic Information System software which allows him to replicate the situation with his ideal results he called “equilibrium”. Adopting this protocol, transport buses have to maintain distances between each other, as a result the number of users are spread uniformly, reducing long waiting time and inundate of buses. Sprogis suggested that MBTA implement “uber-fication” of their buses using app to advise drivers while imposing the protocol. This could further aid decision makers in anticipating the issues and would improve the services for the commuters. I agree with Sprogis in the implementation of the SaaS system in transport operation. Real-time data could be retrieved to assist bus drivers and operators in data analysis, headway calculations and app developments for the commuter’s benefits.

Firstly, passenger count and headway analysis could be attained to assist bus operators with the help of different type of sensors such as GPS, APC, odometers etc. in the bus operating system. According to Erath (2013), cities like London and Zurich have adopted identical approach. Also illustrated by Wang (2018), systems like “AVL (automatic Vehicle location) and APC (automatic passenger count)” have been utilized widely in bus operating systems. This could help establish precision of the bus location even in tunnels or downtown areas. These units are onboard buses which continues to record real-time data and feed it over to the bus control operators.

Secondly, bus divers could also benefit from this system as proposed by Bartholdi (2011), with the use of “AVL” and “GPS”. With these two data we could achieved mean headway and alteration among headways. This control points requires these data to update and correct headways of buses departing from the control points. Bus drivers will be alerted to accommodate their speed in real-time and relies on the estimation of commuter demand in order to achieve the target speed in which they call “self-equalizing”.

Lastly, commuters could benefit from this system by relying on the real-time data updated on the bus applications. According to Moreira-Matias (2016), a real-time data collection application using historical and real-time AVL data was proposed to predict and prevent bus bunching from occurring. The outputs predicted could be correctively adjusted by the system operators. This system has shown an improvement and a “reduction of 68%” in statistic of bus bunching incident, as demonstrated by country like Portugal. This as a result, has shown improvement on bus bunching and commuter’s experience.

In conclusion, the proposal made by Sprogis (n.d.) is feasible and with the advancement in technologies and resources. Drivers and bus control operators could benefit from the data analysis. Also, data could be easily attained for the benefits of the commuters in terms of mobile applications.

References

Bartholdi, J., Eisenstein, D. (2011). A self-coördinating bus route to resist bus bunching. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 46(4), 481-491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2011.11.001

Erath, A. (2013). How to solve the problem of bus bunching, The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/how-to-solve-the-problem-of-bus-bunching

Moreira-Matias, L. (2016). An online learning approach to eliminate Bus Bunching in real-time. Applied soft computing, 47, 460-482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2016.06.031

Sprogis, D.(n.d.). Preventing ‘Bus Bunching’ with Smart Phone Application Implementation. https://www.anylogic.com/preventing-bus-bunching-with-smart-phone-application-implementation/

Wang, P., Chen X., Chen W. (2018). Provision of Bus Real-Time Information: Turning Passengers from Being Contributors of Headway Irregularity to Controllers. Sage Journals. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118798722

Revised on 16/10/20