Evaluation of the reliability of bus service based on GPS and Smart Card data

With an increasing emphasis on public transits, the level of service (LOS) provided has gained more attention than ever. In this paper, we aim to evaluate the reliability of the public bus service via the abundant data of GPS and Smart Card. Three indexes (PIL, PIS, and DIS) are taken into consideration; a comprehensive evaluation of Bus No.757 in Shanghai is achieved by the collaboration of these indexes. To achieve this, we modified the normal data processing method, adapting it to the current GPS facilities in Shanghai. Records from both GPS and Smart Card are processed to unveil the running characteristics of public buses and the extent to which passengers are willing to benefit from the public transits. As the indexes are selected from the perspective of travelers, this study may lend support to the introduction of advanced technology to service evaluation.