Abstract
Purpose
This chapter presents a novel visualisation tool, known as Flexible Integrated Transport Services (FITS) that transport commissioners, providers and administrators could employ to specify and edit the operating constraints as they redesign transport services.
Design/methodology/approach
The context of rural transport planning is discussed noting that where resources are fewer, effective co-ordination is required to provide passengers with efficient transport services. An overview of the FITS visualisation tool and its different sub-systems (e.g. general information regarding services, operating area, passenger eligibility, fare structure and surcharge structure) is given. Additionally, some key computational details of the system are discussed. Preliminary results of a sample case study that trialled the FITS tool in a specific test run, using simulated transport to health data in the Morayshire and North-West Aberdeenshire area of Scotland are presented. The concluding discussion considers the potential impact of employing tools like FITS in planning transport services in rural and low-demand settings.
Findings
Results from the case study show how these effects could be quantified in terms of changes in costs incurred by transport providers, the level of potential demand that could be covered and the associated revenues (fares and subsidies) which could be generated by providers.
Originality/value
The FITS visualisation tool has the potential to act as a planning tool to help transport commissioners, providers and administrators visualise the effects of shifting operating boundaries of flexible transport services.
This chapter presents a novel visualisation tool, known as Flexible Integrated Transport Services (FITS) that transport commissioners, providers and administrators could employ to specify and edit the operating constraints as they redesign transport services.
Design/methodology/approach
The context of rural transport planning is discussed noting that where resources are fewer, effective co-ordination is required to provide passengers with efficient transport services. An overview of the FITS visualisation tool and its different sub-systems (e.g. general information regarding services, operating area, passenger eligibility, fare structure and surcharge structure) is given. Additionally, some key computational details of the system are discussed. Preliminary results of a sample case study that trialled the FITS tool in a specific test run, using simulated transport to health data in the Morayshire and North-West Aberdeenshire area of Scotland are presented. The concluding discussion considers the potential impact of employing tools like FITS in planning transport services in rural and low-demand settings.
Findings
Results from the case study show how these effects could be quantified in terms of changes in costs incurred by transport providers, the level of potential demand that could be covered and the associated revenues (fares and subsidies) which could be generated by providers.
Originality/value
The FITS visualisation tool has the potential to act as a planning tool to help transport commissioners, providers and administrators visualise the effects of shifting operating boundaries of flexible transport services.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Paratransit |
| Subtitle of host publication | Shaping the Flexible Transport Future |
| Editors | Corinne Mulley, John D Nelson |
| Publisher | Emerald Group Publishing Limited |
| Pages | 103-125 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1-78635-225-5 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1786352262, 1786352265 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Publication series
| Name | Transport and Sustainability |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Emerald Insight |
| Volume | 8 |
| ISSN (Print) | 2044-9941 |
Bibliographical note
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThis research was supported by the Research Councils UK Digital
Economy programme award (reference: EP/G066051/1) to the dot.rural
Digital Economy Hub, at the University of Aberdeen
Keywords
- Constraint relaxation
- Eligibility criteria
- Low-demand settings
- Rural transport
- Subsidy
- Visualisation tool