New project for offline access of timetable data

[Andy Botting]

I've had plenty of great feedback from Tram Hunter, but one thing that
keeps coming up is that people want access to timetables.

Unfortunately, only Yarra Trams provides a real-time location API, so
the best we can do for trains, busses, etc is to use some form of
offline timetable data.

I've been speaking to Russell Sim a bit, and we'd like to create a new
project to provide a nice Android GUI to timetable data, in a similar
way that Tram Hunter provides access to tram location data. I actually
see a lot of code from Tram Hunter being reused into this new
project.

One thing that will be quite different between the two projects is
that I'd like to see an extension system so that people can provide
timetable data to extend the use of this project. Initially, we'll
probably focus on some test data we generate during the initial
development stage, but after that I'd like to see data for Melbourne
Trains, Busses and even V/Line timetables available.

We'll probably maintain a server somewhere which will hold these
timetables and allow the user to select a download whichever timetimes
they want and have them stored on the SD card. With support from the
community, we will extend this to include data for timetables for any
city.

So this email is not only a heads-up, but also a call for interest in
helping develop this. Once we work out a suitable name for the
project, we'll create a project site and mailing list and development
can commence.

cheers,

Andy

[Russell Sim]

On 16/08/2010, at 7:18 PM, Andy Botting wrote:

> I've been speaking to Russell Sim a bit, and we'd like to create a new
> project to provide a nice Android GUI to timetable data, in a similar
> way that Tram Hunter provides access to tram location data. I actually
> see a lot of code from Tram Hunter being reused into this new
> project.

I agree. Most of the views will be reused and even the backend Yarra Trams API interface. We might need to rework some of this as we go but it will be a good starting point.

>
> One thing that will be quite different between the two projects is
> that I'd like to see an extension system so that people can provide
> timetable data to extend the use of this project. Initially, we'll
> probably focus on some test data we generate during the initial
> development stage, but after that I'd like to see data for Melbourne
> Trains, Busses and even V/Line timetables available.

Andy I really liked your idea to follow the Google Transport (http://code.google.com/transit/spec/transit_feed_specification.html) schema, and if we work to that data structure we can at least support the current services participating in google transport. I realise that this will only help people living in Perth but it gives use a good place to start.

>
> We'll probably maintain a server somewhere which will hold these
> timetables and allow the user to select a download whichever timetimes
> they want and have them stored on the SD card. With support from the
> community, we will extend this to include data for timetables for any
> city.

I completely agree with this, one of the biggest faults with the iPhone Metlink app is that it assumes that you will be off-line the whole time, so it mirrors the complete tram, train, bus, vline database, which is ~30MB (updates ~bi-monthly), it would be far better to mirror routes from the database and just use online queries where required for finding new stops and routes.

>
> So this email is not only a heads-up, but also a call for interest in
> helping develop this. Once we work out a suitable name for the
> project, we'll create a project site and mailing list and development
> can commence.

You already know i'm interested! Once I have my head around android app development I'll try and start.

Also, in regard to the name, under android you can have an app name which is distinct to the name space so we could always just rename the project later easily and in the meantime just call it Transport or Transit, not a snazzy name i know, but it's enough to put it in repository.

Cheers,
Russell

[Ozgreg]

Andy,

Sadly I cannot help you develop this but I can certainly applaud you
for wanting to develop this.. Interesting enough an Android app does
exist for Trains and it does download timetable data etc, however the
app is terrible and the data poor but the concept is interesting..

http://melbournetrains.spikytech.com/

Sorry I cannot help out out in the development but always willing to
bug test anything to death ;)

Greg

[Ozgreg]

PS: How does TransitHunter sound ;)

On Aug 16, 7:18 pm, Andy Botting <a...@andybotting.com> wrote:

[Luke Kellett]

Likewise... I wont be able to assist due to uni and work commitments.

However I am happy to be a sounding board for ideas if you need one...

Luke

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