Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/66688
As a transit agency, ridership information is of utmost importance, and it's most frequently requested by staff in various VTA divisions. So an easily accessible online map application that synchronizes the presen- tation of ridership data with the mapping of transit stops and lines would be useful for a cross-section of different users. Starting with the elevation-profile application, VTA substituted elevation data with transit-ridership data, customized scripts and redesigned the Web page. Soon a VTA transit online application came into shape. Through pull-down menus, this application allows users (primarily planners) to view ridership change for a selected time period along a selected transit line. In addition, a Google map is embedded in the Web page to show the location of stops and the line. Parallel to the map is a Google Street View panorama for any map location clicked—all the information is synchronized. Virtual Insight These two transit applications will facilitate easy access to transit attribute and location information with nothing more than a Web browser. The surrogate transit-tour and fly-around-station features provide a game-like experience to existing or potential riders looking for transit information. The same applications will provide planners a pan- oramic view of land-use patterns around selected transit facilities and help them gain insights on the relationship between ridership and land use, such as the level of urbanization in the station vicinity. In addition, the project helps change the image of the public sector as archaic in terms of technology. Most importantly, easier access and enriched data Figure 4. A simple query can return a variety of VTA Ridership Profile information. presentation translates to cost savings, more-efficient use of information and better decision making. The debut of the two transit applications to an inter- nal agency audience generated quite a few interesting responses. On the Virtual Transit Tour application, one planner commented that "I have never seen transit infor- mation like this before." This is exactly the purpose of this project: providing a new way of seeing things. Ya Wang and George Naylor are senior planner and manager, respectively, with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority; e-mail: ya.wang@vta.org and george.naylor@vta.org, respectively. Technologies Used Google API Google Visualization API JavaScript PHP Google Earth API Google Map API V3 ADVERTISERINDEX ADVERTISER GeoPlace.com Mobile www.geoplace.com/mobile GeoPlace.com www.geoplace.com GeoSpatial Matters www.geoplace.com/GPM GeoWorld on Facebook www.facebook.com/geoworldmag GeoWorld Reprints www.geoplace.com GeoWorld Subscriptions www.geoplace.com/subscribe PAGE 13 9 31 32 25 5 M AY 2O12 / WWW . GEOPLA CE .C O M 29