In case you do not acquire data, you will not be in the position to make proper decisions. It is as simple as that. Transport organising is not an exemption, either to this principle. We will be able to make thorough decisions about the different interventions, such as more frequent transport services, timetable changes or network-related modifications, only if we are in possession of as much traffic data as possible.
Why is it required to acquire data?
Our vibrant city is under constant development, simultaneously with which, our mobility demands are being formed on a continuous basis. Furthermore, the mobility services, the infrastructure and mobility-related habits all make an impact on the creation of settlements and the environment, on the design of urban public spaces and also on the quality of life in residential areas. In case we wish to understand these processes and influence them by our decisions, we will require data.
Data used and managed by BKK can be categorised, according to the following aspects:
- based on transport mode: public transport users, micromobility users (e.g.: cyclists or scooter riders, etc.), pedestrians (active road users), road users (motorists using private cars and also other participants of road transport),
- as per the data type: quantitative (quantitative data, such as number of passing vehicles) and qualitative (qualitative data, such as passing vehicles, as per categories).
Even the data acquision-related activity can be categorised as per the following different aspects:
- as per the methodology of data acquisition: under this category, we are interested in the characteristics of the acquired data (cross-sectional or destination),
- as per the mode of data acquisition, that is by which methods we are acquiring data (by on-the-spot measurement by human resource, by device, big data or by interviews), and
- as per the data source (external - internal),
The categorisation based on transport modes and the differentiation as per the type of data fully indicate the type of data currently acquired and managed by BKK, while the categorisation as per the mode of data acquisition sheds light on how data are acquired. Besides the “what type of data and how data are acquired” questions, it is important to specify the main goals BKK use the acquired data for.
In case you are interested in the methodology in more detail, or in what type of data is available to BKK, how data are acquired and for what goal BKK uses the acquired data, please read our blog.