Spatiotemporal Analysis of Bus Networks Using Smart Card Data: A Case Study of Zhonghe, Yonghe, and Banqiao Areas

Keywords: Smart Card Data, Data Mining, Bus Commuting, Spatiotemporal Analysis
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

When planning bus routes and stops, the government often relies on the subjective views of planners or requests from representatives and the public, leading to plans that lack theoretical and scientific grounding. This can result in low operational efficiency, poor service levels, and wasted resources. Therefore, using data science methods to understand bus network service performance and assess whether it meets current commuting needs is a valuable area for exploration and analysis. In today’s advanced technological era, Smart Card Data (SCD) can be used to extract public commuting trajectories, helping to understand the time segments, origin-destination points, and routes associated with commuter demand in the Zhonghe, Yonghe, and Banqiao areas, thereby enabling deeper analysis and interpretation.
This study analyzes bus route data from Taipei City and New Taipei City, supplemented by population data from Zhonghe, Yonghe, and Banqiao areas to calculate demand for bus usage. Using clustering and data mining methods, the study identifies the proportion of commuters who use buses for inter-district commuting and transfers, gaining insights into the service quality and performance evaluation of public transportation in the Taipei metropolitan area, and establishing a commuting model for the New Taipei metropolitan area.