An Open-Source System for Public Transport Route Data Curation Using OpenTripPlanner in Australia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Access to large-scale public transport journey data is essential for analysing accessibility, equity, and urban mobility. Although digital platforms such as Google Maps provide detailed routing for individual users, their licensing and access restrictions prevent systematic data extraction for research purposes. Open-source routing engines such as OpenTripPlanner offer a transparent alternative, but are often limited to local or technical deployments that restrict broader use. This study evaluates the feasibility of deploying a publicly accessible, open-source routing platform based on OpenTripPlanner to support large-scale public transport route simulation across multiple cities. Using Australian metropolitan areas as a case study, the platform integrates GTFS and OpenStreetMap data to enable repeatable journey queries through a web interface, an API, and bulk processing tools. Across eight metropolitan regions, the system achieved itinerary coverage above 90 percent and sustained approximately 3000 routing requests per minute under concurrent access. These results demonstrate that open-source routing infrastructure can support reliable, large-scale route simulation using open data. Beyond performance, the platform enables public transport accessibility studies that are not feasible with proprietary routing services, supporting reproducible research, transparent decision-making, and evidence-based transport planning across diverse urban contexts.
Source: Computers
Authors: Kiki Adhinugraha, Yusuke Gotoh, David Taniar
Institutions: La Trobe University, Okayama University, Monash University
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
Funder: La Trobe University
OpenAlex ID: W7124164725