IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jgeosy/v25y2023i3d10.1007_s10109-022-00400-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the time geography of public transport networks with the gtfs2gps package

Author

Listed:
  • Rafael H. M. Pereira

    (Ipea - Institute for Applied Economic Research)

  • Pedro R. Andrade

    (INPE - National Institute for Space Research)

  • João Pedro Bazzo Vieira

    (Ipea - Institute for Applied Economic Research)

Abstract

The creation of the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) in the mid-2000s provided a new data format for cities to organize and share digital information on their public transport systems. GTFS feeds store geolocated data on public transport networks, including information on routes, stops, timetables, and service levels. The GTFS standard is now widely adopted by thousands of transport authorities and a wide variety of software applications for different purposes, including trip planning, timetable creation and accessibility analysis. Yet, there is still a lack of tools to parse GTFS data when the objective is to analyze the complex spatial and temporal patterns of public transport systems. This paper presents {gtfs2gps}, a new general-purpose computational tool to easily process static GTFS data that allows one to analyze the space–time trajectories of public transport vehicles at fine spatial and temporal resolutions. {gtfs2gps} is an open-source R package that employs parallel computing to convert GTFS feeds from relational text files into a trajectory data table, similar to GPS records, with the timestamps of vehicles in every trip. This paper explains the package functionalities and demonstrates how {gtfs2gps} can be used to articulate key concepts in time geography to explore and visualize the spatial and temporal patterns of public transport networks. We also present a case study looking at how {gtfs2gps} can be used to examine socioeconomic and spatial–temporal inequalities in access to public transport, providing key information to monitor cities’ progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The paper is accompanied by a computational notebook in R Markdown to support reproducibility of the results in this paper and to replicate the analysis for other contexts where GTFS data are available. Given the widespread use of GTFS, {gtfs2gps} opens new possibilities for researchers to examine the time geography of public transport systems in urban areas across the globe.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafael H. M. Pereira & Pedro R. Andrade & João Pedro Bazzo Vieira, 2023. "Exploring the time geography of public transport networks with the gtfs2gps package," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 453-466, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jgeosy:v:25:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10109-022-00400-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10109-022-00400-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10109-022-00400-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10109-022-00400-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sergio Rey, 2009. "Show me the code: spatial analysis and open source," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 191-207, June.
    2. Robin Lovelace, 2021. "Open source tools for geographic analysis in transport planning," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 547-578, October.
    3. Lee, Jinhyung & Miller, Harvey J., 2020. "Robust accessibility: Measuring accessibility based on travelers' heterogeneous strategies for managing travel time uncertainty," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    4. Yang, Lin & Zhang, Fayong & Kwan, Mei-Po & Wang, Ke & Zuo, Zejun & Xia, Shaotian & Zhang, Zhiyong & Zhao, Xinpei, 2020. "Space-time demand cube for spatial-temporal coverage optimization model of shared bicycle system: A study using big bike GPS data," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    5. Ying Song & Harvey Miller, 2012. "Exploring traffic flow databases using space-time plots and data cubes," Transportation, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 215-234, March.
    6. Sui, Daniel, 2012. "Looking through Hägerstrand’s dual vistas: towards a unifying framework for time geography," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 5-16.
    7. Arbex, Renato & Cunha, Claudio B., 2020. "Estimating the influence of crowding and travel time variability on accessibility to jobs in a large public transport network using smart card big data," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vanessa Brum-Bastos & Antonio Páez, 2023. "Hägerstrand meets big data: time-geography in the age of mobility analytics," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 327-336, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Antonio Páez, 2021. "Open spatial sciences: an introduction," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 467-476, October.
    2. Pereira, Rafael H. M. & Andrade, Pedro R. & Bazzo Vieira, João Pedro, 2022. "Exploring the time geography of public transport networks with the gtfs2gps package," SocArXiv qydr6, Center for Open Science.
    3. Higgins, Christopher D. & Páez, Antonio & Kim, Gyoorie & Wang, Jue, 2021. "Changes in accessibility to emergency and community food services during COVID-19 and implications for low income populations in Hamilton, Ontario," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    4. Lin, Joanne Yuh-Jye & Jenelius, Erik & Cebecauer, Matej & Rubensson, Isak & Chen, Cynthia, 2023. "The equity of public transport crowding exposure," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    5. Shiqin Liu & Carl Higgs & Jonathan Arundel & Geoff Boeing & Nicholas Cerdera & David Moctezuma & Ester Cerin & Deepti Adlakha & Melanie Lowe & Billie Giles-Corti, 2021. "A Generalized Framework for Measuring Pedestrian Accessibility around the World Using Open Data," Papers 2105.08814, arXiv.org.
    6. Noelia Caceres & Luis M. Romero & Francisco J. Morales & Antonio Reyes & Francisco G. Benitez, 2018. "Estimating traffic volumes on intercity road locations using roadway attributes, socioeconomic features and other work-related activity characteristics," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(5), pages 1449-1473, September.
    7. Guzman, Luis A. & Cantillo-Garcia, Victor A. & Oviedo, Daniel & Arellana, Julian, 2023. "How much is accessibility worth? Utility-based accessibility to evaluate transport policies," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    8. Ye, Xinyue & Yue, Wenze, 2014. "Comparative analysis of regional development: Exploratory space-time data analysis and open source implementation," Economics Discussion Papers 2014-20, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    9. Næss, Petter & Peters, Sebastian & Stefansdottir, Harpa & Strand, Arvid, 2018. "Causality, not just correlation: Residential location, transport rationales and travel behavior across metropolitan contexts," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 181-195.
    10. Elise Desjardins & Christopher D. Higgins & Darren M. Scott & Emma Apatu & Antonio Páez, 2022. "Correlates of bicycling trip flows in Hamilton, Ontario: fastest, quietest, or balanced routes?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 867-895, June.
    11. Kai Ma & YongJian Tan & Zhong Xie & Qinjun Qiu & Siqiong Chen, 2022. "Chinese toponym recognition with variant neural structures from social media messages based on BERT methods," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 143-169, April.
    12. Gautier Daras & Bruno Agard & Bernard Penz, 2019. "Conceptual Framework for SDSS Development with an Application in the Retail Industry," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(3), pages 357-373, June.
    13. Aston, Laura & Currie, Graham & Kamruzzaman, Md. & Delbosc, Alexa & Brands, Ties & van Oort, Niels & Teller, David, 2021. "Multi-city exploration of built environment and transit mode use: Comparison of Melbourne, Amsterdam and Boston," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    14. Zhang, Guozheng & Wang, Dianhai & Cai, Zhengyi & Zeng, Jiaqi, 2024. "Competitiveness of public transit considering travel time reliability: A case study for commuter trips in Hangzhou, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    15. Cai Jia & Yanyan Chen & Tingzhao Chen & Yanan Li & Luzhou Lin, 2022. "Evolutionary Game Analysis on Sharing Bicycles and Metro Strategies: Impact of Phasing out Subsidies for Bicycle–Metro Integration Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    16. Soomauroo, Zakia & Blechinger, Philipp & Creutzig, Felix, 2023. "Electrifying public transit benefits public finances in small island developing states," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 45-59.
    17. repec:asg:wpaper:1008 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Bivand, Roger & Piras, Gianfranco, 2015. "Comparing Implementations of Estimation Methods for Spatial Econometrics," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 63(i18).
    19. repec:rri:wpaper:201301 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Mir Aftab Hussain Talpur & Shabir Hussain Khahro & Tauha Hussain Ali & Hassam Bin Waseem & Madzlan Napiah, 2023. "Computing travel impendences using trip generation regression model: a phenomenon of travel decision-making process of rural households," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 5973-5996, July.
    21. Yanmin Qi & Zuduo Zheng & Dongyao Jia, 2020. "Exploring the Spatial-Temporal Relationship between Rainfall and Traffic Flow: A Case Study of Brisbane, Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    22. Singh, Suraj Shirodkar & Javanmard, Reyhane & Lee, Jinhyung & Kim, Junghwan & Diab, Ehab, 2021. "The new BRT system has led to an overall increase in transit-based accessibility to essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Empirical evidence from Winnipeg, Canada," OSF Preprints anjd7, Center for Open Science.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    GTFS; Time geography; Public transport; Transport networks; gtfs2gps;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L90 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - General
    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jgeosy:v:25:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10109-022-00400-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.