UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

DECLARATION OF PROJECT REPORT AND COPYRIGHT

Author’s full name : Vasuthevan A/L Annamalai

Date of birth : 05th January 1972

Title : Data Management of Public Bus Operators in Johor Bahru

Academic Session : 2008/2009

I declare that this project report is classified as:

CONFIDENTAL (Contains confidential information under the Official Secret

Act 1972)*

RESTRICTED (Contains restricted information as specified by the

organisation where research was done)*

√ OPEN ACCESS I agree that my project paper to be published as online open

access (full text)

I acknowledge that Universiti Teknologi Malaysia reserves the right as follows:

1. The project report is property of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

2. The Library of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia has the right to make copies for the

purpose of research only.

3. The Library has the right to make copies of the thesis for academic exchange.

Certified by :

___________________________ ________________________________

SIGNATURE SIGNATURE OF SUPERVISOR

720105-01-5731_ DR.MUHAMMAD ZALY SHAH

(NEW IC NO./PASSPORT NO.) NAME OF SUPERVISOR

Date : 12th November 2008 Date : 12th November 2008

NOTES: * If the project paper is CONFIDENTIAL or RESTRICTED, please attach with the letter from

the organisation with period and reasons for confidentially or restriction

PSZ 19:16 (Pind. 1/97)

DATA MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC BUS OPERATORS IN JOHOR BAHRU

VASUTHEVAN A/L ANNAMALAI

A project report submitted

in fulfilment of the partial requirement

for the award of the Master of Science (Transport Planning)

Faculty of Built Environment

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

NOVEMBER 2008

ii

“We hereby declare that we have read this thesis and in our opinion this project

report is sufficient in terms of scope and quality for the award of the degree of

Master of Science (Transport Planning)”

Signature : ............................................................................

Name of Supervisor : Dr. Muhammad Zaly Shah B. Muhammad Hussein

Date : 12th

November 2008

Signature : ............................................................................

Name of Examiner : Associate Professor Dr. Othman Che Puan

Date : 12th

November 2008

iii

“I declare that this project report entitled “Data Management Of Public Bus

Operators in Johor Bahru” is the result of my own research except where I have cited

in the references. The project report has not been accepted for award of any degree

and is not currently submitted in candidature of any degree.”

Signature : ............................................................................

Name of Candidate : Vasuthevan A/L Annamalai

Date : 12th

November 2008

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DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to my late father Mr.Annamalai, loving mum

Mrs. Theivanai, my lovely wife Parameshwari and dearest daughter

Saranyaa who taught me that the best kind of knowledge to have is that

which is learned for its own sake.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In all my humbleness and respect, I wish to dedicate this piece of work

including the many endeavour’s undertaken, to my loving mother Mrs.Theivanai. I

also pray for the blessings of my forefathers. My pursuit of Masters (M Sc. Transport

Planning) has been possible due to the moral support of my lovely wife

Parameshwari and my dearest daughter Saranyaa who has constantly assisted me in

continuing my further studies at UTM. It would be incomplete if I did not mention

Dr. Muhammad Zaly Shah my project supervisor, who at all times, guided and

counseled me through the completion of project. Many thanks to my colleagues

Asogan, Captain V and Nizam who were with me during my M. Sc. (Transport

Planning) studies at UTM, Skudai. Special thanks to my lovely wife for her support

in my studies.

Finally, above all, I am grateful to Lord Shiva – Anbe Sivam.

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ABSTRAK

Di dalam era logistik dan ekonomi yang baru, pengurusan data bas yang

sistematik adalah merupakan salah satu aset kritikal bagi mana-mana pengusaha bas.

Johor Bahru antaranya merupakan sebuah bandaraya di dunia ini yang menghadapi

masalah peningkatan permintaan pengangkutan awam dan juga masalah

pengangkutan yang disebabkan oleh pembangunan yang pesat. Kajian ini mengkaji

sistem pengurusan data yang dilaksanakan oleh pengusaha bas awam di bandaraya

Johor Bahru, Johor. Kajian ini memfokuskan kepada cara pengurusan data terkini

yang dilaksanakan oleh pengusaha-pengusaha bas awam di Johor Bahru. Kesemua

enam syarikat pengusaha bas di Johor Bahru telah ditemubual dalam menjayakan

objektif kajian ini. Matlamat pengkajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengetahui

pola/corak pengurusan data sedia ada yang dilaksanakan oleh pengusaha-pengusaha

bas awam di Johor Bahru di samping ingin mengetahui apakah faktor-faktor yang

memberikan kesan kepada pengusaha bas samada daripada pengumpulan, penilaian

dan menganalisa data. Borang soal selidik ( pengurusan data bas) untuk kajian ini

telah direka dan dianalisa dengan menggunakan program perisian Excel, di mana

dua dimensi yang berbeza iaitu data pendapat penumpang dan data operasi telah

digunakan dan dianalisa. Data-data diperolehi daripada semua pengusaha bas awam

dianalisa secara terperinci dan hasilnya menunjukkan bahawa tiada pendekatan yang

sistematik digunakan untuk mengumpul data daripada penumpang dan aktiviti

operasi. Hasil kajian ini juga menunjukkan bahawa pengurusan data bas sedia ada

tidak mempunyai satu pengumpulan data yang lengkap dan ianya lebih kepada

bentuk pemasaran dan route impact analysis. Pada masa yang sama, kajian ini

menunjukkan bahawa polisi syarikat memainkan peranan yang jelas dari segi

pengumpulan, penilaian dan analisa data. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan bahawa

pengurusan data bas di Johor Bahru jauh ketinggalan jika dibandingkan dengan lain-

lain bandaraya di negara-negara membangun.

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ABSRACT

In the new logistic and economy era, a systematic bus data management is

one of the critical assets for any bus operator. Johor Bahru like other cities in the

world is facing increased public transportation demands and transportation problems

caused by rapid urbanization. This research project investigates the data management

of public bus provider in Johor Bahru City, Johor. The research is focus on the

current practice of data management by public bus operator in Johor Bahru city. All

six public bus operators were interviewed for the purpose of this research. The aim of

this research attempts to know the pattern of existing data management practiced by

public bus operators in Johor Bahru and to know what are the factors affects the bus

operators from collecting, evaluating and analyzing the data. The questionnaire (bus

data management survey) of the research were designed and analyzed with

application of simple Microsoft Excel where two distinct dimensions namely,

passengers opinion data and operational data were analyzed. The data obtained from

all six public bus operator were descriptively analyzed and the finding indicate that

there is no systematic approach to collect data from passengers and operational

activities. The finding also indicates that the existing bus data management is not a

complete data collection and it is more on market trend and route impact analysis. At

the same time this research indicates that company policy play a significant role in

affects the bus operator from collecting, evaluating and analyzing the data. This

research indicating that the bus data management in Johor Bahru far less than

compare to other cities in developed countries.

viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

TITLE i

SUPERVISOR DECLARATION ii

STUDENT DECLARATION iii

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

ABSTRAK vi

ABSTRACT vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS viii

LIST OF TABLES xii

LIST OF FIGURE xiv

TITLE PAGE

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Current public bus scenario in Johor Bahru 1

1.3 Problem statement 4

1.4 Research question 5

1.5 Objective of study 5

1.6 Area of study 6

1.7 Contribution 7

1.8 Scope and limitation of study 8

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CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction 9

2.2 Basic element of data management 11

2.2.1 Data collection 11

2.2.2 Data entry 12

2.2.3 Data analysis 16

2.2.4 Data reporting 17

2.3 Data warehousing 18

2.4 Data mining 20

2.5 Application of data management 21

2.5.1 Marine data management 21

2.5.2 Transport data management 23

2.5.3 What is intelligent transport system 23

2.5.4 ITS and transportation 24

2.5.4.1 Benefits of ITS 24

2.5.5 ITS case study 1 - Improvement in Denmark

Rail Services using ITS 26

2.5.6 ITS case study 2 - Buses Tracked in Denmark 27

2.6 Importance of data management 28

2.6.1 Success story of New Zealand Post 28

2.6.2 Challenges 28

2.6.3 Action plan 29

2.6.4 Result 31

2.7 Failure of data management - Failure in predicting El-Nino 31

2.8 Transport data management - Failure in sustainable

data collection 32

2.9 Importance of data management to CEO/ Executive

and Planners 33

2.9.1 Application of EIS 34

2.10 Contribution of data management to public transportation 36

2.10.1 Key benefits of the data management in public

Transportation 36

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CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 38

3.2 Conceptual model 38

3.3 Data collection method 39

3.3.1 Primary data 39

3.3.2 Secondary data 40

3.3.3 Bus operator data management survey 40

3.4 Population and sampling method 42

3.5 Data analysis 42

3.5.1 Quantitative method 42

3.5.2 Qualitative analysis 43

3.6 Conclusion 43

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

4 DATA ANALYSIS

4.1 Introduction 44

4.1.1 Data collection – passenger opinion 44

4.1.2 Passenger bus survey 46

4.1.3 Frequent of passenger bus surveys 47

4.1.4 Source of passenger’s feedback 47

4.1.5 Budget allocated for bus survey 48

4.1.6 Appointed personnel or department 48

4.1.7 Difficulties faced by bus operators during

data collection from passenger 49

4.1.8 Information collects by bus operators from

passenger 50

4.1.9 Record keeping 52

4.1.10 Purpose of bus operators collect data on passenger

opinion 52

4.1.11 Activity after collected the passenger data 53

4.1.12 Use of collected passenger’s data by bus operators 53

xi

4.1.13 Receiver of the complete passenger’s

opinion reports 55

4.2 Operational data collection 56

4.2.1 Company policy 56

4.2.2 Frequent of operational data 57

4.2.3 Source of operational data 58

4.2.4 Budget allocated for operational data 59

4.2.5 Appointed personnel or department 59

4.2.6 Difficulties faced by bus operators during

operational data collection 60

4.2.7 Type of data collected from operational

activities 61

4.2.8 Record keeping of operational data 63

4.2.9 Purpose of collecting operational data 63

4.2.10 Activity after collect the operational data 63

4.2.11 Use of collected operational data 64

4.2.12 Receiver of complete operational data reports 65

4.2.13 Types and formats of reports 66

4.2.14 Review and action plan 67

4.3 Conclusion 67

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

5 CONCLUSION

5.1 Introduction 69

5.2 Summary of the research findings 69

5.3 Discussion 70

5.4 Future studies 72

5.5 Recommendation for public bus operators in Johor Bahru 72

5.6 Conclusion 73

REFERENCES 75

APPENDIX 78

xii

LIST OF TABLE

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE

Table 1.1 Current public bus operators and

number of bus routes in Johor Bahru City 2

Table 1.2 Total registered stages bus, number of complaint and type of

disciplinary action taken by CVLB Peninsular Malaysia

for 2005 and 2006 3

Table 1.3 Transport & Communication Indicator by City, 1990 and 2000 3

Table 1.4 Traffic Compositions (%) By Bus JB-Air Hitam and JB – Endau 4

Table 4.1 Passenger opinion data collection by Johor Bahru bus operators 45

Table 4.2 Public bus passenger bus survey in Johor Bahru 46

Table 4.3 Frequent of public bus passenger survey 47

Table 4.4 Source of passenger’s feedback by bus operators 48

Table 4.5 Department for data management 49

Table 4.6 Difficulties during data collection for passenger opinion 50

Table 4.7 Passengers information collects by bus operators 51

Table 4.8 Records keeping of passenger opinion data by bus operators 52

Table 4.9 Purpose of data collection 53

Table 4.10 Activities after collect the data from passenger and method

of analysis 54

Table 4.11 Use of passenger’s data collected by public bus operators 54

Table 4.12 Receiver of the passenger opinion report 55

Table 4.13 Review of reports and action plan by bus operators on

final report 56

Table 4.14 Company policy on operational data collection 57

Table 4.15 Frequent of operational data collection 58

xiii

Table 4.16 Source of operational data collection 58

Table 4.17 Department for operational data management 59

Table 4.18 Difficulties faces by bus operators during collect

operational data 60

Table 4.19 Type of data collected from operational activities 62

Table 4.20 Data collection on peak time and peak season 61

Table 4.21 Record keeping of operational data 62

Table 4.22 Purpose of bus company collect operational data 64

Table 4.23 Method of use to analyze the operational data 64

Table 4.24 Use of operational data 65

Table 4.25 Receiver of the operational report 66

Table 4.26 Type and format of the report 66

Table 4.27 Review of operational data collection reports and action plan 67

xiv

LIST OF FIGURES

NO. TITLE PAGE

Figure 1.1 Area of Study, Map of Johor Bahru City 7

Figure 2.1 Simple process of data management 11

Figure 2.2 Chicago transit authority bus tracker 15

Figure 2.3 Chicago transit authority bus location map 16

Figure 2.4 Data analysis 17

Figure 2.5 New Zealand Post 30

Figure 3.1 Conceptual model 39

Figure 3.2 Sections in Bus Operator Data Management Survey 41

Figure 4.1 Handal Indah, online customer feedback form 45

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1. 1 Introduction1

Data Management is one of the strategically significant resources that any

organization can possess. Data management has traditionally been viewed as part of

the information technology cost centre. But this view is changing, both in business

and in general, as organizations recognize data as a critical asset that, when properly

managed and with a view to addressing specific business challenges, provides

significant competitive advantages. Data management has become an important

source of better performance and competitive advantage for any organization. Data

Management studies in Malaysia mostly focus on Hi-Tech industry, public sector

administration and educational institutes, rarely on transportation. This study takes

how public bus operator in Johor Bahru manage the data their data as a performance

index to improve services and sustain in the industry.

1.2 Current public bus scenario in Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru, like many Asian cities, is facing increased demand in better and

quality public bus transportation due to rapid urbanisation. The current public bus

services in Johor Bahru comprise of 6 bus companies with almost 600 buses which

operating on 117 routes (refer Table 1.1). Even though, current combination of land-

2

use and transport planning, public transport is accessible to a large part of the Johor

Bahru population the modal split is not in favors of public transport (bus, train and

taxi) 30:70 to private vehicles. (Technical report Transport Traffic Management Unit,

Local Plan Research, Johor Bahru , 2002).

Public bus transport system provide most efficient meant of moving large

numbers of people in Johor Bahru, especially in connecting surroundings residential

townships and rural areas to Johor Bahru City. Even though these public bus

transports not considerable flexibility in meeting demand for urban population,

public bus transport is the only choice of majority of the urban poor population in

Johor Bahru.

Table 1.1: Current public bus operators number of bus routes in Johor Bahru City

PUBLIC BUS OPERATOR NUMBER OF BUS ROUTES

MAJU 16 Routes

HANDAL INDAH - CERIA / CAUSEWAY LINK 23 Routes

S & S 3 Routes

GML LINE 5 Routes

TRITON 10 Routes

CITY BUS / TRANSIT LINK 36 Routes

Source: www.wikitravel.com

Statistics from CVLB Commercial Vehicles License Board (CVLB) showed

that even though complaint about stages bus in year 2006 is decreased about 0.9 but

seriousness of disciplinary action taken against stages bus is getting worst in 2006

compare to year 2005 (refer Table 1.2). Number of suspension is increased from 2

cases to 13 cases and one termination in year 2006. Above data clearly indicated that

public bus passenger are not satisfied with the service and poor bus management and

data management of bus resulted in serious disciplinary action taken against bus

operators.

3

Table 1.2: Total registered stages bus, number of complaint and type of disciplinary

action taken by CVLB Peninsular Malaysia for 2005 and 2006

Year 2005 Year 2006

Total registered stages bus 8,615 8,976

License Issued 519 361

Complaint 775 724

Warning 204 127

Compound 123 200

Suspension 2 13

Termination 0 1

Source: MECD Annual Report 2005 and 2006

A study on Malaysian Quality life in year 1990 - 2000 completed in 2002 by

Ministry of Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development indicated that there are

838 cars and motorcycles per 1000 people in Johor Bahru in year 1990 were

increased to 1271 cars and motorcycles in year 2000. This is contrast with statistic

for public transport per 1000 population was 13.9 in year 1990 were only increased

to 15.8 in year 2000 (refer Table 1.3). This clearly indicated that declined in public

transport, especially public bus transport from year 1990 to 2000 in Johor Bahru and

registered the second highest of private vehicle user after Kuala Lumpur

(Malaysia Quality Life, Year 2002).

Table 1.3: Transport & Communication Indicator by City, 1990 and 2000

City Private vehicles

per 1000 population

Public transport

per 1000 population

City 1990 2000 1990 2000

Ipoh 485.1 825.4 4.8 6.3

Johor Bahru 838.1 1271.1 13.3 15.8

Kuala Lumpur 591.1 1418.5 10.5 21.6

Kuching 1549.0 1882.8 15.5 12.9

Source: Malaysian Quality Life, Year 2000

4

Table 1.4: Traffic Compositions (%) By Bus JB-Air Hitam and JB – Endau

Route / location 2004 2005 2006 2007

JR203 JB-Air Hitam 2.7 2.2 1.9 1.7

JR501 JB-Endau 0.9 0.8 1.9 1.2

Source: Road Transport Department, Malaysia, 2007

Another statistics from Ministry of Transport support above claims that the

traffic Compositions (%) by bus in selected JB-Air Hitam and JB – Endau showed

that compositions of bus on the road reduce from 2.7% in year 2004 to 1.7% in year

2007(refer Table 1.4). This is very obvious in JB-Air Hitam location whereby the

density of population along this route is higher compare to JB-Endau location. Above

two data clearly indicated that poor bus management and data management of bus

result in decreased of buses on the road specifically public bus passenger whom shift

to use private vehicles.

In Johor Bahru only one bus operator provide information and collect

customer’s feedback by online website. It is very surprised to know that two

prominent public us operators Syarikat Pengangkutan Maju (MAJU) and Alec Bus

Sdn. Bhd (City Bus) in Johor Bahru which in this industry more than 25 years still

using traditional method to collect passenger feedback. This study will highlight the

status of intra-city bus data management in Johor Bahru and how these bus operators

use the collected data and the effectiveness of the existing data management.

1.3 Problem statement

Johor Bahru like other cities in the world is facing increased transportation

demands and transportation problems caused by rapid urbanization. Even though

there are six public bus providers in Johor Bahru; intra-city bus industry is still

considered a traditional industry although it is one of indispensable transportation in

Johor Bahru. The management strategy of these public bus providers has no

systematic approach for collecting, record keeping, evaluate and analyze (bus data

management) the bus data’s among public bus operator in Johor Bahru. Most of the

5

bus companies have customer complaints form only and no adequate and well

planned complete bus survey. Basically the bus data management of intra-city bus

industry in Johor Bahru is far less than compare to other cities in developed countries.

Therefore, it is highly desirable to assess the status of intercity bus data management

in Johor Bahru to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing data management and

analyze the factors which affects the bus operators from collecting, evaluating and

analyzing the data’s practiced by bus companies in Johor Bahru.

1.4 Research Question

Research question for this study is based on above scenario of problem

statement and below are the research questions for this study.

i. What is the existing company policy on data management?

ii. What are data / information Johor Bahru bus operator collect?

iii. How these bus operators collect the data?

iv. How do these bus operators keep the collected data or archive the data?

v. Why these bus operators collect data?

vi. What these bus operators do after collected the data?

vii. How do these bus operators use the collected data?

viii. Company strategies and action plan after analyze the data /results?

1.5 Objective of study

The objectives of the study are:

i. To know the pattern of existing data management practiced by bus operators

in Johor Bahru.

6

ii. To know and analyze the factor which affects the bus operator from

collecting, evaluating and analyzing the data.

iii. To suggest and recommend solutions that will help improve the bus

operators data management.

1.6 Area of study

Johor Bahru is physically located at the southern part of the Malaysian

Peninsular which 350 Kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur and proclaimed as a City

Council in 1994. Population of Johor Bahru city is nearly 1.5 million (year 2006).

Land Area is 186 sq. km. Johor Bahru, (refer figure: 1.1) like many Asian cities, is

facing increased demand in better and quality public bus transportation due to rapid

urbanisation. Currently, 6 bus companies providing public bus services in Johor

Bahru city and its metropolitan area (refer table 1.1) This study covers the entire 6

public bus provider in Johor Bahru which covers 112 routes.

7

Figure 1.1: Area of Study, Map of Johor Bahru City

Source: Jabatan Kerja Raya, Negeri Johor, 2007

1.7 Contribution

This study could give us the existing pattern and effectiveness of data

management by bus companies in Johor Bahru.

Area of study

Johor Bahru

8

Analyze the factors which affect the data management could help existing bus

service provider to think seriously about bus management and future and sustainable

public bus service in Johor Bahru.

Suggestion and recommendation based on result of study to improve the

Johor Bahru bus companies’ data management.

1.8 Scope and limitation of study

Involving public bus operator associated with competition in Johor Bahru

only. Any cross border bus service from JB-Singapore, Singapore – JB and intercity /

major town not included in this study. Any direct and indirect implications from

congestion, pollution and accidents involving other vehicles not covered in this study.