Data management opens new possibilities, saves the environment, as well as passenger’s time.
28 September 2022
“In this case study we analyzed a popular bus route in Helsinki. This bus route has a lot of equipment, traffic, and passengers. Utilizing data collected in the past, we were able to investigate how the route of a bus can be shortened and how it affects both CO2 emissions and driving time. The route was re-modeled based on the data and compared to an existing line,” says Christian Sundell, Head of strategy and business development from Tietoevry Care.
“Data-driven leadership is one of the key elements of our 2021 strategy, and the objective is to become the expert in the business. The importance of data-driven leadership and analytics in our operations design has become the most essential competitive factor. We are developing our capabilities to produce and benefit information. Through analytics and data, we are bringing in additional value to our clients and stakeholders, which is why we also wanted to execute this case-study”, explains Ossi Berg, the Head of Unit at HSL.
As a result, the study group was able to shorten the bus route by 118 meters. The route being shortened saved 105 seconds off each ride or correlating to 320 hours of travel hours saved/per vehicle/per year. The shortened route also reduced CO2 emissions by 330 tons per year.
If one were to look at a bus that carries 18 passengers on this route, 30 times a day, each day of the year the results of time saving would be even more significant: Shortening 118 meters from the route saved passenger’s time to the tune of 2.6 million days or 7,000 years.
“In an ever-changing society, diverse knowledge and skills are required to develop a transport system that responds to customer needs and urban development. Improving cost-effectiveness and productivity is possible through the use of data as part of the development process, which was concretely confirmed in the study”, Berg says.
“This was a win-win situation for all: For HSL, for the environment, and for the passengers. Wider use of data and its integration into the design process enabled the line to be implemented more efficiently. The simple shortening of the route therefore resulted in incredibly positive results that have a tangible impact on people’s lives in the city,” Sundell sums up.
Mobility impact – the study wanted to address the opportunities and added value that using smart data management can bring.
“We wanted to concretize what big data optimization can achieve. An optimally functioning urban transport of the future will support people's well-being. The study was based on an in-depth understanding of the direction in which public transport should develop in the future. It is important to reduce CO2 emissions from public transport. That requires novel solutions and innovations from the operators,” Sundell says.
Public transport is the backbone of growing cities. Demand and expectations for public transport are constantly growing around the world. The use of data can help these issues be anticipated and resolved more agilely as part of traffic planning. If significant and impressive results are obtained by utilizing data on a single line route, it is essential to look at the possibilities on a larger scale as well. Sundell believes that the smarter use of data will increase the attractiveness of public transportation
“Use of data brings savings and efficiency to the service provider's own operations. Also, passengers benefit from this in many ways. In addition to saving time on transport routes, well-being is increased by reduced traffic noise and improved air quality thanks to smart route planning. All of this is an essential part of smart urban planning,” Sundell says. Sundell continues with:
“Finnish public transport already uses data in innovative and versatile ways. One example would be that traffic lights in Helsinki already prioritize buses. This translates to public transport that runs more smoothly whilst reducing CO2 emissions. We have a huge amount of relevant data on different modes of transport. Using it will make it possible to produce more efficient solutions for all transportation services. Tietoevry hopes to take this work forward.”
Tietoevry helps customers to utilize and manage their data. Tietoevry’s goal is to support the responsible development of society and companies through technology and various digital solutions.
"Using data helps us seek new service solutions, it gives us the opportunity to find out the best possible outcomes even before executing anything. We can study how a ride-sharing public transporting could work - or where to build electric car charging point strategically. Everything is possible.”
Tietoevry can also act as an enabler when organizations want to break down their silos.
“Data helps organizations to anticipate and see the potential solutions. It improves understanding on what and how a city or traffic should be planned and implemented. At their best, projects like this intensify cooperation between different parties and increase consensus in decision-making.”
For more information, please contact:
Christian Sundell, Head of strategy and business development, Tietoevry Care, christian.sundell@tietoevry.com