12.5m reasons why free bus app is worth a look

[Buzz Killington]

Rather than providing GPS data to a group of University students who have built a free bus-tracking smartphone application for Canberra commuters, the ACT Government has revealed plans to go to tender for a similar product, at a projected cost of $12.5 million.

The students, collectively known as the Imagine Team, said they were 'stunned and amused' when the multi-million dollar figure was revealed.

Team member Andrew Clapham told The Canberra Times that when the group approached the Government in March, they were told there was no money available for such a product.

""We offered the app for free, and were then told by TAMS that there is no money for this project, and so no possibility for paid work. We were surprised, to say the least when we read this similar project had a $12.5 million dollar price tag. I laughed out loud," Mr Clapham said.

The team's app, known as MyBus 2.0, is available on the Android marketplace, has been downloaded more than 1,300 times.

At present its capabilities are limited to a searchable timetable however the group met with Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) with a view to obtaining global positioning system (GPS) data that would allow pin-point accuracy of bus stops and indeed the buses themselves, in order to provide real-time updates to passengers.

The group were advised in March this year that the data would be provided to them within three months - this has not occurred.

Whilst acknowledging that the multi-million dollar pricetag included funds that were allocated towards other aspects of real-time bus monitoring software, the group fear that a bundling all aspects of the system together in a single tender process would prevent smaller companies and groups from making a successful tender.

"We'd hate to miss out on this opportunity to help Canberra because of the project being tendered as one enormous contract for a large expensive company," Mr Clapham said.

Minister for TAMS Simon Corbell said that the Imagine Team's product so far was different to the proposed real-time tracking project was offering, however Mr Corbell has since tweeted that he has offered a meeting to the group, and looks forward to reaching a solution on the matter.

The overall project is scheduled to be fully implemented by 2014.

[Maxious]

Considering Simon Corbell described collating the bus locations into a single file for internet upload as "put it into a single set of information technology", I'll stick with the analysis of the qualified IT students.

[Snorzac]

The iPhone app 'ACT Buses' got updated last week and can now find your nearest stop, a stop by stop timetable for the service you are on and timetables for individual stops. 

[Barry Drive]

Considering Simon Corbell described collating the bus locations into a single file for internet upload as "put it into a single set of information technology", I'll stick with the analysis of the qualified IT students.

This is what Simon Corbell is quoted as saying:

You've got to have the IT infrastructure to be able to collect all of the signals that you get from all of the buses, put it into a single set of information technology and then feed it out to wherever you want to feed it out to.

Now perhaps he didn't explain it very well but, unless I'm missing something here, he has a good point. Right now, the only GPS information ACTION gets from its buses is what the bus fleet number is. For any real-time tracking system to work you first need to know which bus route each bus is operating.

[shneyney123]

Thanks for the article post Buzz Killington! We very much appreciate any opportunity to further our push for a more transparent and modern transport agency.

This is what Simon Corbell is quoted as saying:

Now perhaps he didn't explain it very well but, unless I'm missing something here, he has a good point. Right now, the only GPS information ACTION gets from its buses is what the bus fleet number is. For any real-time tracking system to work you first need to know which bus route each bus is operating.

In regards to what Simon Corbell stated, I fail to see how 12.5 million dollars can be justified in anyway. Regardless of how valid his statement is or isnt, collating information when the hardware and uploading mechanisms are already in place and are not a primary part of the cost, 12.5 million dollars, or any subset of that would be much better placed in other areas such as making the actual service more reliable and more widely used, ESPECIALLY when we offered to work with the government for free. At the end of the day, free cant be beat, and in light of spending 12.5 million dollars of tax payer's money, cant be ignored either.

[Barry Drive]

Regardless of how valid his statement is or isnt, collating information when the hardware and uploading mechanisms are already in place ...

I am genuinely interested in learning about this matter - what hardware are you referring to as already being in place? Do they not need some backbone software which matches the schedules to the buses performing the schedule? Do you accept that they need to appoint specialist consultants to advise them what is needed to provide a full suite of real-time bus monitoring as well as to manage the project? Do you accept that such consultants may know more about the reality of these systems than you do?

[shneyney123]

By hardware we are referring to GPS modules, which are currently being used to limit access to the MyWay card readers in between bus stops.

Do you accept that such consultants may know more about the reality of these systems than you do?

How should we know the "reality of the system"? We were never given the opportunity to find out more about it, nor given a chance to provide the expertise we believe we have thus far demonstrated and could bring in future, and as such we are, like you, not in position to agree or disagree to that statement.

[Barry Drive]

"these systems", not "the system". How much do you know about similar systems in use elsewhere - such as in Perth and Brisbane? I readily accept that I know nothing about these systems (although I'm happy to learn more) but that specialist consultants do.

And would you be so kind as to answer my other questions, particularly the second one.

[shneyney123]

It seems that there is a misunderstanding between what you seem to believe we are after, and what our true end goals are, but let me shed some light into our thought processes. From the beginning, we wanted to provide, not detract. We wanted collaboration, not conflict. We wanted to help, not hinder. 12.5 million dollars is alot of money, and if we can bring that down in any possible way by any amount, why ever not? Our end goal is to help the Canberra public, and if you feel you (or anyone for that matter) can help in anyway, please dont hesitate to email us at imagineteamsolutions@gmail.com to further discuss.

[Buzz Killington]

Any timeframe on the iPhone app? At present I'm using a combination of several (ACT Buses or CbrTimetable for timetables, Consume for my MyWay balance).

Without access to an Android mobile I look forward to having a play around with an iPhone version.

[Barry Drive]

I never made any statements about what I believe you're after. I asked some questions to find out what you already know about real time systems. And I would appreciate it if the questions were answered. "I don't know" is an acceptable answer.

[shneyney123]

Any timeframe on the iPhone app? At present I'm using a combination of several (ACT Buses or CbrTimetable for timetables, Consume for my MyWay balance).

Without access to an Android mobile I look forward to having a play around with an iPhone version.

We are working towards releasing an iPhone app, along with a web app as well, similar to busness in design. We will let everyone know once a public release is available. In the mean time, your coverage and support is very much appreciated, and please do not hesitate to provide us suggestions for what you would like to see in an iPhone app!

I never made any statements about what I believe you're after. I asked some questions to find out what you already know about real time systems. And I would appreciate it if the questions were answered. "I don't know" is an acceptable answer.

While you didn't explicitly say what you believe we were after, your rather aggressive form of communication relays a lot implicitly. In any case, what you don't seem to understand is that a standard is not the only way of doing things. We are familiar with the various ways in which other cities (primarily what San Francisco has in its "nextBus" system) conduct real time transport tracking but that does not mean it "the" way of doing things. In other words, to answer your question directly, yes we do, and to further clarify, we are more than capable of also creating our own system need be, once we establish the requirements and find what exactly is needed. Again, should you want to know more, feel free to contact you via the methods of communication available for you to us at http://my-bus.com.au/imagineteam/?page_id=198

[Barry Drive]

While you didn't explicitly say what you believe we were after, your rather aggressive form of communication relays a lot implicitly.

As compared to what I've said explicitly: "I am genuinely interested in learning about this matter" "I readily accept that I know nothing about these systems (although I'm happy to learn more)" and "I never made any statements about what I believe you're after."

What you interpret as "aggressive form of communication" is my standard form - if I have a question I will ask it directly; and I expect a direct answer.

So, if it helps, I'll ask the questions again but this time with subtext turned on:

1. what hardware are you referring to as already being in place? {ACTION's equipment may not be advanced as you might think it is}

2. Do they not need some backbone software which matches the schedules to the buses performing the schedule? {ACTION's software may not be as advanced as you might think it is and/or is non-existent}

3.  Do you accept that they need to appoint specialist consultants to advise them what is needed to provide a full suite of real-time bus monitoring as well as to manage the project? {ACTION / ACT public servants do not have the ability or knowledge to do this work themselves and need outside specialists - hopefully you agree this is the sensible way to get the specifications prepared}

4. Do you accept that such consultants may know more about the reality of these systems than you do? {In other words, do you have a track record in delivering these projects to other bus operators? If you don't then you should not expect to be appointed to do the consultancy work - although this aspect of the project is already underway (see below).}

As the Media Release says:

"The first phase of this project involves the detailed design of specifications for the system, which is now underway," Mr Corbell said.

Mr Corbell said a request for tender for the supply, installation and on-going maintenance of the system is expected at the end of the year. Installation of real time passenger information is expected for 2012 with the system becoming fully operational by 2013.

So establishing the requirements is already underway. Once that has been completed you, and anyone else, may tender for that work - and you can set whatever price you feel is warranted. As I said on twitter, there has not been a "$12.5m tender" {the final price has not been determined since the project has not yet been put out to tender - the $12.5m is merely a budget allocation}.

[Buzz Killington]

please do not hesitate to provide us suggestions for what you would like to see in an iPhone app!

Will have a better think about this at some point, but one idea that springs to mind is incorporating a list of MyWay recharge agents, both as a traditional list (by suburb most likely) as well as on a map with a 'find my nearest recharge agent' option.

your rather aggressive form of communication ..

He can come across as being very blunt, but he means well!

[Barry Drive]

Still waiting on answers.