massdot developers - o'reilly media webcast presentation

http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 1

MASSDOT DEVELOPERSChris Dempsey and Joshua Robin

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers@massDOTdev


WHAT IS MassDOT?• The Massachusetts Department of

Transportation has oversight of:– MBTA– State Highways and Massachusetts Turnpike– Registry of Motor Vehicles– Aeronautics Division– Regional Transit Authorities– Relationship with MassPort


IF YOU TRIED TO BUILD A TRANSPORTATION APPLICATION 6 MONTHS AGO…

• Beg MassDOT or one of its agencies for data• Scrape data yourself• Jump through hoops to get data in digital formats

– Worry about how that data is kept up to date when schedules change

• Worry that even when you release a successful application, MassDOT/MBTA would object


NEW MODEL: OPEN DATA• “Open” MassDOT data by making it available in

standard formats– RSS, XML, GTFS, etc.

• Harness the power of developers to build interesting and useful applications with our data– Creates value for both transportation agencies AND

developers

• Better serve customers across many platforms


EOT DEVELOPERS PAGE BETA• July 2009, EOT launches the EOT Developers

as a resource to developers interested in working with transportation data!

http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers


A NEW APPROACH• In addition to opening data, EOT Developers efforts

strive to engage the developer community in a new and different way– A focus on allowing developers to shape the direction

this effort takes– Monthly meeting with developers– An open conversation through the MassDOT Developers

Google Group– Use of Twitter for updates @MassDOTdev


A NEW APPROACH

“This approach is a smart 21st-century alternative to hiring some consultant who develops inelegant

software at exorbitant costs.”Boston Globe, Saturday, September 5, 2009


EOT+DEVELOPERS: RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES

•Respect Resources•Succeed Together•Expect Change

For the full Relationship Principles Document visit:

http://bit.ly/massdotdevrelationship


EOT+DEVELOPERS: RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES

•Communication is key•Open, open, open•Legal

– Read the Developers License Agreement:

http://bit.ly/massdotdevdla


WHAT DATA IS AVAILABLE?• MBTA

– T-Alerts feed•Service advisories and updates

– GTFS Files•Files with route and scheduling information

–For Rail, Bus, Subway, Boat– KML Files

•Station Locations and Routes• RTAs

– GTFS Files– Real-time tracking


WHAT DATA IS AVAILABLE?• Highway

– Highway construction events xml feed.•Feed of planned road closures and other

events.• Registry of Motor Vehicles

– Branch wait-time feed• EOT Blog

– News and Updates about EOT


GOOGLE TRANSIT


WHAT IS GOOGLE TRANSIT?• Google Transit is a transit trip-planner integrated

into Google Maps.• Free and available to the public at

www.google.com.• Provides schedule information (not real-time) for

publicly accessible transportation services.• Includes locations of stations and stops.• Multi-modal: users can also search driving

directions and walking directions.


WHY IS GOOGLE TRANSIT IMPORTANT?• GTFS is a rapidly-developing international standard

for trip-planning (more than 400 transit systems use it on six continents).

• Our riders expect it and will use it!• Constantly updated, at no cost to public agencies.• Integrated with other information (shopping,

restaurants, health-care, schools, etc).• Free to users AND agencies.


THE RESULT?• Existing and new transit users have better

information about our services.• We are close to our long-sought-after goal of a

statewide transit trip planner.


WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO WITH GTFS DATA?• Because GTFS has become an international

standard, this data can be used by more than just Google.

• Hosting this data publicly unlocks the creativity and entrepreneurialism of third-party developers who can be our partners in sharing information about transit services.


APPS TO DATE

MassTransit:

http://bit.ly/hmQ2R

To a T:

http://bit.ly/2ajqVt RMV Wait Times:

http://tinyurl.com/massrmv


MAKING AN IMPACT“Open data” does not mean much to most

people……but most people want to know when the bus, train or ferry is going to arrive.

•We need to spread the word about these applications and open data!–The more people ask for open data

and transportation applications, the easier opening more data becomes!


LONG TERM GOAL: REAL TIME• At this time, most available data is static

data such as routes and schedules• Long-term, our goal is to make real time data

public• Many challenges exist


LONG TERM GOAL: REAL TIME• Real time data on locations and speed of

buses will allow developers to create many interesting and useful applications –Possibilities are already being realized in other cities

• These applications will create a great possibility to increase public transportation use and change the way people use transit


REAL TIME: CURRENT MODEL

1 2 3


REAL TIME: IMPACT OF OPEN DATA

1: Open Real Time Data and see what happens…


WHAT’S NEXT: DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE

• Saturday, November 14th• Opportunity for developers to meet other

developers, transportation officials, and other interested parties


WHAT’S NEXT: DEVELOPERS CHALLENGE

• The Challenge calls on developers to create both applications and data visualizations– Applications for mobile, web, and other formats.– Visualizations using EOT Developers data to tell the story

of the MBTA.

• The top two submissions will receive prizes and recognition at the Developers Conference

• The initiative is part of the Patrick Administration’s commitment to comprehensive transportation reform and creating a modern, efficient, and customer-friendly transportation system

http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers - Twitter @MassDOTdev 25

JOIN US/SPREAD THE WORD• Website: http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers• Twitter: @massdotdev• Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/massdotdevelopers

• Contact: [email protected]

massdot developers - o'reilly media webcast presentation

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