Digital Matatus

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

University of Nairobi, MIT, Columbia University

Manufacturing/Building Method

The mobile data collection was performed with a customized version of MyTracks. Formatting of the data into the GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) was initially done by hand. Currently, a web based application, Digital Matatus GTFS Editing Tool, simplifies the formatting process. The GTFs editing tool is complete and was used to do the first update of Digital Matatus. The company has yet to launch it formally but intends to make it open source.^{Interview with representative} Digital Matatus utilizes data collected from partners to continuously update the data set to keep it as current as possible.

Intellectural Property Type

Open Source

User Provision Model

End users can use several apps that have implemented Digital Matatus' data: - Google Maps - Ma3Route - Transit App

Distributions to Date Status

There have been over 5,000 downloads of the data and paper maps since 2014.

Design Specifications

Through a pre-selected mobile application, students from University of Nairobi rode several Matatus routes with mobile phones in their hands. The stops were identified as well. With the collected data, and after workshops with local transit experts, a more flexible GTFS standard was created. This standard is suitable for transit systems with high level of complexity and informality, such as Nairobi's. Digital Matatus also designed a paper map at the Civic Data Design Lab^{Interview with representative} . Below are the steps towards achieving this solution: 1) Inspiration came from transit maps of systems in New York or London 2) Crowdsourced data was transferred into a software like Illustrator or Rhinoceros (Digital Matatus used Rhinoceros) 3) A grid was laid down and lines drawn at 45 and 90 degree angles on top of the grid 4) Colored lines were created for each group of routes 5) Stops for each line in the transit system was inserted

Technical Support

Digital Matatus provides access to the GTFS datasets. General guidelines from the World Bank for integrating GTFS data into other applications is also provided.

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Digital Matatus intents to improve public transit in cities through technology, namely by using information gathered from the commuters.  

Vetted Performance Status

From survey data: - 80% of respondents didn't have access to these data before the project - 86% of respondents believed the map made it easier to use public transit in Nairobi - 83% of respondents reported that they would try alternate Matatu routes with the map - 50% of respondents reported that they believed that Nairobi's Matatu system was better than they previously thought after seeing the map

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

Google Maps, Open Street Maps

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

N/A

Other Information

- Google overview on GTFS - World Bank training material on GTFS - Wired article on Digital Matatus Resources related to paper map: - https://vimeo.com/108273416 - https://vimeo.com/108273414 - https://vimeo.com/108273415