Google Transit Webinar Q & A (Part I of III)
Tom Sly
with Google Transit" webinars offered on April 10 and April 11.
Follow up questions may be posted to the Google Transit Group
(http://groups.google.com/group/googletransit) or sent to
labs-trans...@google.com.
Q & A Topics in Part I
+ Agency Participation
+ Open Source Software
+ Third-Party Software
Update: Open source utilities are now available that can help you
build, validate and preview data in the Google Transit Feed Format!
* FeedValidator - The Feed Validator checks a Google Transit Feed for
problems. Running it on your transit data feed and fixing the issues
that it finds can save you from display and routing problems down the
road. [source + windows executable available]
* ScheduleViewer - Schedule Viewer is a program for viewing the
contents of a Google Transit Feed on a map. It's a diagnostic program
intended for those creating a feed, and as such doesn't include trip
planning or other features that are useful to transit riders. [source
+ windows executable available]
* TransitFeed - transitfeed.py is a Python module for reading,
validating, and writing transit schedule information in the Google
Transit Feed Specification format. Python programmers are encouraged
to make use of this functionality when building programs that work
with transit data.
For more information, please visit:
http://code.google.com/p/googletransitdatafeed/
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* Agency Participation:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q: My agency is a division of the City Public Works Department, is it
the GIS department that I would work with to fulfill the Google specs?
(I'm NOT a writer of interfaces and am concerned about understanding
the technical nuances of what may be required)
A: This varies from city to city and agency to agency. The Google
Transit Feed Specification is meant to be as simple and
compatible as possible; we have also released a set of open source
tools to help you build your data export, validate it in detail, and
view
the results in a web browser using the Google Maps API.
Q: Many large agencies have already made substantial investment in
trip planning software. Why should they switch to Google?
A: We do not think agencies should "switch" to Google. Being part of
Google Transit is one more way for your agency's route and schedule
information to be found.
Q: Where can I find instructions for creating our info in Google's format?
A: Please visit
http://code.google.com/transit/spec/transit_feed_specification.htm for
the actual specification. If you have specific questions about the
Google Transit Feed Specification, you can send us feedback
(labs-trans...@google.com) or post it to the Google Group
(http://groups.google.com/group/googletransit).
Q: Please let me know how we can participate. We just have one route
map and nothing ever changes except our daily hours. :-)
A: To get started, your agency needs to create a data feed in our
format and send an email to labs-trans...@google.com with the
data attached.
Q: Does Google have the capacity/staffing to load all of the Transit
Data Feeds that are sent your way? I've heard that you are somewhat
selective in which systems are made available to the public.
A: One of the things we can do incredibly well at Google is build
scalable systems. Our goal is ubiquitous coverage of public transit.
If an agency provides us with working data in the Google Transit Feed
Format, completes the Transit Content Agreement, and gives us the
go-ahead, we will go live.
Q: How can my agency become a part of Google Transit? We've requested
information in the past, but have not been contacted yet?
A: The best way to let us know that you would like to participate is
to send an e-mail to labs-trans...@google.com with the subject,
City, State - Agency Name (e.g., Boston, MA - MBTA).
Q: The Detroit People Mover is a 2.9 mile closed loop elevated rail
system that circumnavigates the Downtown Detroit Central Business
district. Does it make sense for us to be on your map?
A: Yes, this makes perfect sense for the people who live in and visit Detroit.
Q: Are any of the current participants planning on making this
application their primary online trip planning tool -- abandoning any
current products in use?
A: We do not intend our product to be a replacement for an agency's
trip planner, but rather an additional way for riders to find
information.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Open Source Software:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q: During the presentation, a simulator was mentioned as a way for
agencies to test their data before uploading to Google.com/transit.
When will this be available?
A: We have good news! On Earth Day, we released open source tools to
build, validate and view your data in the Google Transit Feed format.
You can find these tools at the following location:
http://code.google.com/p/googletransitdatafeed/
Q: Where can I find out more about the TimeTable Publisher software
that was mentioned during the webinar?
A: The TimeTable Publisher website is a goods starting point:
http://www.timetablepublisher.org/ Frank Purcell at Portland Tri-Met
developed TimeTable Publisher.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Third-Party Software:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q: How do you get the data into the Google Transit Spec? We use
Trapeze software.
A: If you would like to get more details and options on how to
proceed, please send an email to labs-trans...@google.com with
information about your agency's situation, and we will try to help.
Q: We don't currently have a trip planner, so do you think this would
be something we could opt for instead of getting our own?
A: This is always an option given budget constraints, but keep in mind
that Google Transit is not intended to be a replacement trip planner,
and as a result, we may not be able to provide all of the
functionality that a stand alone trip planner can offer.
Q: Which third parties have announced support for Google Transit?
A: Giro and Trapeze have announced that they will provide export
functionality for their customers. There are also several other open
source developers
and consulting companies that are eager to work with agencies.
Q: Where can I find out more about the export functionality being
built by Giro and Trapeze?
A: The best way to find out more about the export functionality being
developed by Giro and Trapeze is to contact these companies directly.
* Giro's announcement:
http://www.giro.ca/English/Publications/Press_Releases/Google.htm
* Trapeze's announcement: http://www.trapezegroup.com/solutions/pt_google.php
Q: Is there an advantage to Google transit versus existing third-party
scheduling software?
A: The biggest advantage of being part of Google Transit is that your
information appears in a global set of search products that are easy
to use, and visited by millions and millions of people every day.
People who do not know your city well, are visiting, or are simply
unaware of your agency's services, will benefit from access to Google
Transit. We do not intend to be a replacement trip planner, but
another way to find information.
Q: If transit agencies do not have scheduling software that can export
data into Google's format, is it still possible to participate in
Google Transit?
A: Yes, certainly. You just need to export your data into the Google
Transit Feed format.
Q: We currently have our bus stop locations in an Access Database and
our schedule of timepoints in an Excel workbook. Would you use these
formats for our system or would we need a 3rd party?
A: Exporting from Access and Excel into our format is quite easy --
both have easy-to-use export functions.