What public transport will move us tomorrow? Data management opens up new possibilities, saves the environment, as well as passengers’ time.
Tietoevry represents strong expertise in the field of providing data and software solutions to its customers. In Finland, more than 90% of public transport operators use Tietoevry’s systems in the implementation of traffic planning. One of them is a long-time partner, Helsinki Region Transport HSL. Together with HSL, Tietoevry conducted a mobility impact study in 2021. The objective of the study was to map the efficiency and possibilities of using data in route planning. The study was based on HSL traffic data from the city of Helsinki.
“In this case study, we analyzed a popular bus route in Helsinki. This bus line has a lot of equipment, traffic and passengers. Using data collected in the past, we were able to study how the route of a bus can be shortened and how this affects both CO2 emissions and driving time. The route was reshaped based on the data and compared to an existing line,” explains Christian Sundelresponsible for the strategy and business development of Tietoevry Care.
“Data-driven leadership is one of the key elements of our 2021 strategy, and the goal is to become the industry expert. The importance of data-driven leadership and analytics in designing our operations has become the most critical competitive factor. We are developing our capacities to produce and enhance information. Through analytics and data, we bring additional value to our customers and stakeholders, which is why we wanted to do this case study as well,” says Ossiberghead of unit at HSL.
As a result, the study group was able to shorten the bus route by 118 meters. The shortened route saved 105 seconds on each trip or correlated to 320 hours of travel hours saved/per vehicle/per year. The shortened route has also reduced CO2 emissions by 330 tons per year.
If we looked at a bus that carries 18 passengers on this route, 30 times a day, every day of the year, the time-saving results would be even more significant: Shortening 118 meters of the route saved time passengers up to 2.6 million days or 7,000 years.
“In an ever-changing society, various knowledge and skills are needed to develop a transport system that meets customer needs and urban development. Using data as part of the development process leads to improved profitability and productivity, which was concretely confirmed in the study,” says Berg.
“It was a win-win situation for everyone: for HSL, for the environment and for the passengers. Wider use of data and its integration into the design process allowed for more efficient implementation of the line. So simply shortening the course has had incredibly positive results that are having a tangible impact on the lives of people in the city,” Sundell sums up.
Smart transport, smart city
Impact on mobility – the study wanted to address the opportunities and added value that the use of intelligent data management can bring.
“We wanted to realize what big data optimization can accomplish. An optimally functioning urban transport of the future will contribute to the well-being of people. The study was based on a thorough understanding of the direction in which public transport should develop in the future. It is important to reduce CO2 emissions from public transport. This requires new solutions and innovations from operators,” says Sundell.
Public transport is the backbone of growing cities. The demand and expectations for public transport are constantly growing around the world. The use of data can help to anticipate and solve these problems in a more agile way within the framework of traffic planning. If meaningful and impressive results are achieved using data on a single line route, it is essential to also examine the possibilities on a larger scale. Sundell believes that smarter use of data will increase the attractiveness of public transport
“The use of data brings savings and efficiency to the service provider’s own operations. In addition, passengers benefit in many ways. In addition to saving time on transport routes, well-being is increased by reducing traffic noise and improving air quality through intelligent route planning. All of this is an essential part of smart city planning,” says Sundell. Sundell continues with:
“Finnish public transport is already using data in innovative and versatile ways. An example would be that traffic lights in Helsinki already give priority to buses. This results in smoother public transport while reducing CO2 emissions. We have a huge amount of relevant data on the different modes of transport. Its use will produce more efficient solutions for all transport services. Tietoevry hopes to take this work forward.
Data is the starting point of a successful solution
Tietoevry helps customers use and manage their data. Tietoevry’s goal is to support the responsible development of society and business through technology and various digital solutions.
“Using the data helps us research new service solutions, it gives us the opportunity to experience the best possible outcomes before we even execute anything. We can investigate how ride-sharing public transport might work – or where to strategically build a charging point for electric cars. Anything is possible.”
Tietoevry can also act as a facilitator when organizations wish to break down their silos.
“Data helps organizations anticipate and see potential solutions. It improves understanding of what and how a city or traffic should be planned and implemented. At best, projects like this intensify cooperation between different parties and increase consensus in decision-making. »
For more information please contact:
Christian Sundell, Head of Strategy and Business Development, Tietoevry Care, [email protected]
