Leveraging data to improve the performance of transit networks and multimodal mobility

Context: understanding new multimodal mobility behaviors

Forty-seven percent of passengers surveyed in December 2021 as part of the Keoscopie study said they had profoundly changed their mobility behaviors. What better way to analyze and understand their daily choices than by leveraging the power of data? From passenger flows to peak ridership and more, public transit players need data visualization and measurement tools to establish a shared and transparent information base. This will serve as a valuable tool for adapting infrastructure and vehicle supply across all regions and encourage passengers to opt for shared mobility solutions. And, because new behaviors go hand in hand with a new passenger experience, leveraging data will also allow Keolis to evaluate the passenger experience by combining a range of operating indicators, such as punctuality, occupancy rates and the number of trips made. 

Innovation: harnessing data to improve multimodal and shared mobility

Using data enables Keolis to offer its passengers and mobility authority customers the most suitable transit solutions, notably by having a comprehensive vision of transit networks. Sharing data also allows Keolis to strengthen its partnership with the mobility authorities and to make necessary decisions together with them for the smooth operation of the networks. 

Keolis, in partnership with mobility authorities, has co-developed two complementary and innovative tools.

The first, Patterns, uses GPS data from mobile phones and connected objects. This anonymous and GDPR-compliant use of data allows the company to understand mobility dynamics. Combined with enrichment algorithms, it reconstructs every stage in a multimodal journey by specifying the modes of transport used, customer types or variations in travel habits. 

The second, Impulse, combines Keolis' dual expertise in mobility and data, by harnessing data from several operating systems, including third-party data, such as city or weather data, for a more thorough analysis. Its user-friendly interface provides an overview of performance indicators for the entire transit network: ridership, stop frequency, punctuality, quality of service, etc. Impulse also allows elected officials, managers, and technicians of Keolis and mobility authorities to better evaluate the network across three levels: 

- The network's weather forecast for one day 

- An overview of the network by theme (ridership, punctuality, etc.),   

- A comprehensive view of network indicators (ticket validations, vehicle occupancy, subscriber type, etc.) that enable a detailed analysis for each transit line, stop or route.  

Finally, Impulse also provides an "expert" mode that allows the user to filter the network analysis by mode of transport, line, or passenger profile. 

Benefits: combining network performance and multimodal mobility

The performance indicators delivered by Impulse help foster trust between the mobility authority and the operator by delivering a shared vision of the network. This makes it easier for them to collaborate on identifying and implementing optimization measures. This tool also makes it possible to automate certain reports, making it easier for subsidiaries to answer questions from mobility authorities. This solution is a key tool for improving operational performance and, consequently, passenger satisfaction. 

Patterns provides factual and accurate information to regions and transport operators. The solution can serve for a one-time study, such as to monitor the impact of a local mobility policy (density of pedestrians, cyclists, tramway users, etc.), or for continuous monitoring, as it is used by the Observatory of Regional Mobility of the City of Rennes. 

Patterns uses anonymised daily GPS data to :

- retrace all journeys within a region

- identify the modes of transport used

- continuously map mobility as it evolves

- track the carbon footprint dynamically

Patterns CO2 to track carbon footprint dynamically

Dynamically track the carbon footprint of transport is able thanks to the integration of data enabling the evaluation the evaluation of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions factors of each mode, et ainsi déterminer pour chaque déplacement emissions per day, per hour, by origin and destination.

Patterns offers excellent sociodemographic and spatial representativeness of people driving, taking public transport, walking and cycling. It can help PTAs measure the impact and effects of their mobility policies and dynamically track the carbon footprint for mobility in their area. For instance, Greater Nancy Metropole has a mobility observatory with Patterns and these data.

Greater Nancy Metropole has launched several major projects over the next few years (High Quality Bus Service lines with a 100% carbon-free fleet and several kilometres of dedicated lanes, additional secure bicycle zones, park-and-ride facilities, etc.). With Patterns Nancy, the impacts of these projects in terms of modal share and carbon footprint trajectory will be monitored.

Next steps: increasing sustainable mobility solutions by using data

The Hove entity, launched by Keolis in March 2022 and created out of the merger between Kisio Digital and the Kisio Services & Consulting data team, will accelerate the development of innovative tools with a high degree of replicability, such as Impulse. With these tools based on data analysis and exploitation, Keolis will further hone its expertise and understanding of passenger needs by developing new sustainable and shared solutions. The Hove entity will also help to make travel easier for passengers, gain a better understanding of mobility within specific regions and develop an even more efficient transit service benefitting from more precise performance measures.