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Bus Scheduling Model User Interface

Article in AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES · January 2012

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Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 6(13): 181-184, 2012
ISSN 1991-8178

Bus Scheduling Model User Interface

Amiruddin Ismail, Mohammad Hesam Hafezi, Foad Shokri, Mojtaba Shojaei Baghini and
Mohammad Ganji

Sustainable Urban Transport Research Centre (SUTRA)/, Department of Civil and Structural
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Abstract: Bus schedules consist of different values of time and space in which each value can affect
other values. In other words, bus scheduling is a network of numbers and parameters for obtaining
planning output, which is very complex. Bus schedules can be prepared by two ways: manually which
is based on trial and error and using the computer system. With the growth of computer technology,
most transportation authorities tend to use this technology in the planning of bus schedules, for reasons
of scope and convenience. In the meantime, organizations the input and output data on bus schedule is
considered as a necessary part of preparing the scheduling which it can achieve through data mining in
terms of classification approach. Data mining is the process that results in the discovery of new
patterns in large data sets. It utilizes methods at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine
learning, statistics, and database systems. The overall goal of the data mining process is to extract
knowledge from an existing data set and transform it into a human-understandable structure for further
use. This article represents a new bus scheduling technique, which the data are organized as a data
mining approach.

Key words: Bus Schedule, Timetable, Data mining, Frequency, Demand of passengers.

INTRODUCTION

In developing countries, demand for passenger travel is higher, due to economic growth. In some cases
people come from suburban areas to the central business district in the morning and return to their hometown
after working. Also, a large number of intercity trips are made. In this situation, government policy encourages
people to use public transportation instead of their private cars for the reduction of traffic congestion and air
pollution. In the city areas, bus networks are the major part of the public transportation system because they are
easily accessible and cheaper compared to other types of public transportation (Ismail and Hafezi 2011). Data
mining is one of the concepts which by utilizing it we can isolate significant data with unimportant data and
discover hidden data relations. By using data mining techniques, we will be able to detect useful data and to use
them in queries so we can enhance the speed of information accessibility (Hafezi and Ismail 2011a). Data
mining support knowledge discovery by finding hidden patterns and associations, constructing analytical
models, performing classification and prediction (Hafezi and Ismail 2011b). The most common tasks in data
mining are Classification, Clustering, Association Rules and regression.
Classification is used as a general purpose task in Data Mining. Similar attributes are allocated in a specific
class. Model defining is essential for using classification. Classification used supervised algorithms such as
Decision Trees, K-Nearest Neighbor, Naïve Bayes, Neural Networks and support vector. One of the widely used
tasks in data mining is clustering. Clustering as a data mining task is also called segmentation. It is used for
identifying natural groups of data based on attribute specifications. Each group consists similar attributes.
Clustering is an unsupervised method. Thus, it doesn’t use attributes for learning. Iteration has an important
role in clustering methods for converging of the model. In Association Rules tasks pattern repetition is
important. Data categories are defined by using this task. Some methods based on Association rules are CBA,
CPAR and CMAR. Regression is used for forecasting. Variables are divided to Independent-Predictor and
Dependent-Response types of regression oriented tasks. Regression tasks forecast Dependent-Response variable
by using Independent-Predictor variables (Han and Kamber 2006). In this paper, we present a bus schedule
model by considering data mining method.

Bus Scheduling Techniques:

Bus schedules can be prepared by two ways: manually which is based on trial and error and using the
computer system. Bus schedules consist of different values of time and space in which each value can affect
other values. In other words, bus scheduling is a network of numbers and parameters for obtaining planning
output, which is very complex (Hafezi and Ismail 2011c). With the growth of computer technology, most
Corresponding Author: Mohammad Hesam Hafezi is currently a research scholar in Civil and Structural Engineering,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The National University of Malaysia).
E-mail: [email protected], Hp.: +60122127981
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transportation authorities tend to use this technology in the planning of bus schedules, for reasons of scope and
convenience (Hafezi and Ismail 2011d).
Furthermore, with the development of the Smartphone (mobile phone which incorporates a palmtop
computer or PDA) technology, the output of computer bus scheduling can convert to an application that can be
installed in the Smartphone, which allows the user to find details of bus operations, such as location of bus
stops, bus route and arrival times ((Hafezi and Ismail 2012). Computer programming is composed of a
programming language, which is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a computer.
Computer programming can be used to create programs and planning based on precisely designed algorithms.
There are different systems on the market for preparing timetables, such as Trapeze, Hastus, MICROBUS or
Mobile-Plan. Two popular programming languages that most bus companies use for preparing a computer bus
scheduling are: Java Script and Visual Basic (Ford 1990).
Java Script (Java) is a general-purpose, concurrent, class-based, object-oriented language that is specifically
designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. Java programming is most used for offline
computer bus scheduling, for calculating the requirements of bus operation, such as fleet size, headway and bus
frequency. iBus-Vancouver has prepared a computer bus scheduling that shows the whole-day schedule for any
day of the week (City-Go-Round 2012). Furthermore, this computer bus scheduling is able to show all the bus
lines in the bus network throughout the city (Hafezi et al.2012). Bus companies also use Java for preparing
timetables for both bus drivers and passengers, which can be obtained by connecting to fundamental bus
scheduling (fleet size, headway and bus frequency).
Visual Basic (VB) is one of the most popular programming languages for preparing computer bus
scheduling. VB provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the developer to drag and drop objects into
the program as well as manually write program code. Furthermore, VB is able to connect with a map, so that by
clicking on each point on the map, information on that point can be shown. Buzz Stop is the name of a computer
bus scheduling tool prepared by Boston Bus Company in the US. This program has assisted in the
construction of the VB (City-Go-Round 2012). Buzz stop consists of an offline map with accurate coordinate
and orientation system. Thus, users are able to select their destination point on the map and program help for
finding the available bus lines, with guidance from the directions to indicate the nearest bus stop (for example:
200 meters to the left, then 50 meters to the right).
Recently, the United Bus Company of Tehran prepared an application for their users, by which they are
able to find the different ways to arrive at their destination. Furthermore, this application is also connected to the
Metro network, which enables users to choose mixed transportation types for travelling to their destination
point. TDCS is prepared for a major bus line (route 7D) in the Ontario, Canada, starting from the Transportation
Center (TC), via the University of Waterloo and back to the TC terminal. Their computer bus scheduling
consisted of three major parts, namely, bus statistics, including information about total buses, average total
travel time, total trip and average seat rate; passenger statistics, including information about the average waiting
time and average in-vehicle time; and route information, including information about route No., total stops and
distance.
Most of the computer bus scheduling tools presented are based on user interface (travel client), tracking of
buses in the network, and showing the bus stop and the bus line in maps including the arrival time. However,
this bus scheduling software cannot be used for implementation of different scenarios incorporating changes for
improving bus services (travel server). For example, total passenger demand for using the bus line has a direct
effect on the calculation of the fleet size and bus frequency. Furthermore, most of the functional objectives
related to bus operation, such as optimization of bus stop spacing, optimization of operating cost, and improving
the fleet size and trip time, are based on mathematical software such as: Matlab, Maple and Matcom. As a
mentioned above, bus scheduling is a network of numbers and parameters in which all of the operate together.
Using an Excel program with Visual Basic can help to prepare a better application that works with a large
number of values, such as timetable in bus operation, and the departure time of flights in airport services. The
Excel program consists of unlimited cells, where each cell can take a formula and instruction. Also, Excel is
able to give an output of all the programming lines written. Furthermore, Visual Basic with a graphical user
interface (GUI) such as a button or a check box, can help to create user friendly software, since GUI buttons are
easy to understand (users can see them and interact with them directly) (Larsen 2008).

The Model User Interface: Bsm:

Bus schedules model (BSM) in this present study is provided by a computer programming that it is able to
providing the details of bus planning such as: arrival time, departure time, dwell time and buses headway.
Computer programming is consisted of two parts including BSM server windows that let the operator to change
the database and properties and BSM client windows that help the users to access to the client part more easily.

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BSM Server Windows

Figure 1 shows the user interface of the BSM server windows. This window contains of adjustment tools
that help the operator to adjust the schedule model to the ideal condition. The BSM server windows contain
route information, bus statistics, passenger statistics and schedule. In the part of rout information, the operator is
able to choose the zone, bus line number (according to selected zone), direction (inbound or outbound),
operation time (morning rush traffic period; evening rush traffic period and other times). Then, the values of
headway, total stop and bus stop spacing are shown according to data chosen. In the part of bus and passenger
statistics, the operator is able to monitor and adjust the schedule model according to current operation time and
selected scenarios in the schedule section. Information on fleet size, average journey time, bus speed and type,
average waiting time, demand of passenger and load factor is shown for selected scenario. Finally, in the part of
the schedule, the operator is able to examine the different scenarios and subsequently prepare the schedule
model by clicking the display schedule button and shift to Excel file. In this part the operator is also able to see
the selected bus line map by clicking the display map button. In this case the operator can print out the map page
by clicking the print button.

Fig. 1. BSM server windows

BSM Client Windows:

Figure 2 shows the user interface of the BSM client windows. The BSM client window is a downloadable
file that the user is able to download from the internet (bus company website) and run on a personal computer.
This window contains route information and schedule. In the part of route information, the schedule model gives
the option to the users to choose the zone and subsequently bus line. Also, the user is able to choose the
direction. The display schedule and map buttons are used to show the timetable and bus line map. To provide
better conditions for the user, the schedule is illustrated in a small table in the window. Furthermore, the
schedule is shown for the half hour interval time before and after the current time. Also, the user can print out
the schedule and map by clicking the print buttons, which allows the user to bring the schedule and map to guide
them when they don’t have access to a computer.

Conclusions:
The main contribution of this study was helped to the Bus Companies for providing the regular planning for
their services. This bus scheduling model cans implementation in other places that the authorities want to
improve their services. Some effective parameters should be changed in the computer planning such as boarding
and alighting time if in the places behavior of passengers including male and female were different and they
used separated section inside the buses. By the computer planning presented in this study Bus Company
authorities can provide a strong timetable for different time duration bus operation. Furthermore, they are able to
balancing between capabilities and shortcomings by examination them into the computer planning. To adapt the
model to a different bus line involves the following steps: first, to construct the route in the model, information

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on the schedule and route layout are necessary, and second, to calibrate the model, data is needed for the
segment running time, key stop dwell time, terminal departure behavior, and passenger demand.

Fig. 2: BSM client windows

REFERENCES

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