1. Collaborate with Tiramisù
to provide bus riders
a real-time bus tracking system
Jason Zhang
Carnegie Mellon University

2. Part 1
What is the problem?

3. Gap between schedule and actual arrival time
Part1: What’s the problem?
3 arrive
on time
5 arrive
6 minute later
0 arrive
8 mins earlier
number
2
4
6
8
earlier later
Sample Size = 40
0 +2 +4 +6 +8-8 -6 -4 -2

4. number
2
4
6
8
earlier later
Sample Size = 40
0 +2 +4 +6 +8-8 -6 -4 -2
Part1: What’s the problem?
Buses are unpredictable
Bus arrive randomly,
regardless the schedule
Source: Survey conducted by Jason Zhang [Date: Oct, 2012]

5. Part 2
Why is it important?

6. Part2: Why is it important?
Unpredictibility
Bus Riders
Port AuthorityCommunity
• Waste time
• Raise dissatisfaction
• Decrease life
quality
• Fail to fulfill
vision/mission
• Hurt brand image
• Lose bus riders
• Increase
air pollution
• Make streets
crowded
Unpredictable buses trigger negative effects

7. Part 3
What is the solution?

8. Establish a real-time tracking system
to reduce unpredictability
Unpredictibility
Problem
Real-time tracking system
Solution
Part3: What’s the solution?

9. Part3: What’s the solution?
Several other agencies have benefited from their
real-time tracking systems
Source: [1]. Bentley, R. (2003). Bus company implements real-time GPRS tracking to meet passenger service targets
[2]. Ferris, B., & Borning, A. (2011). OneBusAway: Behavioral and Satisfaction Changes Resulting from Providing Real-Time Arrival Information for Public
Transit. Proceedings of the 2011 Transportation research
[3]. Tang, L., & Thakuriah, P. (Vonu). (2012). Ridership effects of real-time bus information system: A case study in the City of Chicago. Transportation Research
Part C: Emerging Technologies, 22, 146–161. doi:10.1016/j.trc.2012.01.001
Rider’s waiting time
has been reduced by 70%
respondents are
more satisfied92%OneBusAway
Weekday ridership per
route has increased by 126

10. Port Authority can’t afford to develop its own system
Aaron Steinfeld
Associate Research Professor in CMU’s Robotics Institute
Project director of Tiramisu
Source: Jon, S. (2012, March 30). New app provides real-time bus info. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 7, 2012, from
www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/transportation/new-app-provides-real-time-bus-info-308018/
Part3: What’s the solution?
It would have cost tens of millions of dollars for the Port
Authority to develop its own real-time tracking system,
something the agency could not afford.

11. Forbes Ave.
Bus StopBus Stop
MacKenzie Adrianto
61C
Tiramisu provides a real-time tracking service
based on crowdsourcing
Part3: What’s the solution?
Forbes Ave.
Bus StopBus Stop
MacKenzi
e
When bus rider
get on the bus
Adrianto

12. Data
Receiving & Process
System
Web Mobile App
Real-time Tracking System
Process
Part3: What’s the solution?
User
Interface
GPS Tracking
Server
GPS Tracking
Device
Tracking System
Architecture
Relevant
Cost
 GPS device
 Server
 System developing
 System maintaining
 Web developing
 App developing
Tiramisu can help Port Authority reduce the cost of
providing the real-time tracking service
SAVE
SAVE

13. Part3: What’s the solution?
Action#1: Install GPS devices on some buses
Data Available Data Not Available
Current Users New UsersGPS Devices

14. Part3: What’s the solution?
Action#2: Advertise the app
Buses Bus-stop Port Authority Website
Low-cost - Take advantage of Port Authority own resources
Efficient -Target directly at bus riders

15. Summary
I. What’s the problem?
Gap between estimate and actual arrival time
II. Why is it important?
Negative impacts on stakeholders:
bus riders, Port Authority & community
III. What’s the solution?
Collaborating with Tiramisu by (1) installing
GPS devices on some buses and (2) advertising
the app