Page 162 - Big Data Analytics for Connected Vehicles and Smart Cities

142 Big Data Analytics for Connected Vehicles and Smart Cities The Practical Application of Analytics to Transportation 143

and Lyft services instead. This introduces the concept of MaaS, under the aus-
pices of which a traveler will acquire transportation on an as needed and pay-
as-you-go basis as a service. Payment for the service could be related to use, or
it could be provided for a fixed monthly fee. This offers the traveler an option
to pay the monthly fee, rather than invest the money into the acquisition of a
personal vehicle. The whole concept of MaaS is still evolving but will probably
include the following elements:

• Uber- and Lyft-style on-demand vehicle services: On-demand private car
transportation services provided on a ride-sharing basis. Both Uber and
Lyft match available drivers and vehicles to those requiring transporta-
tion, making use of an advanced technology platform [2, 3].

• Demand-actuated transit systems: These services are typically operated by
the public sector and involve the use of technology to enable transit pas-
sengers to call for service on demand.
• Fixed-route transit services: These services are also typically operated by
the public sector and involve the use of transit vehicles operating along
predefined routes and operating to a fixed schedule.
• Flexible-route transit services: These are a hybrid of demand-actuated and
fixed-route services where transit vehicles operating within a zone can be
diverted according to the demand for transit.
• Paratransit services: A specialized form of demand-actuated transit de-
signed for people that cannot use any of the above services. Users should
be preregistered to make use of the service before being able to reserve
services in advance. Such services typically should be reserved at least
one day in advance.

In the future, these services could also incorporate the use of fleets of self-
driving or autonomous vehicles.
A service portfolio including the above elements would be presented to
the traveler via web and smart phone applications. Information would be pro-
vided regarding the availability, the estimated travel time, the reliability, and the
cost of each of the service options, enabling the traveler to choose the most ap-
propriate option for the situation. There may also be close cooperation between
public and private service operations. For example, currently, in central Florida,
there are several cities that work in close cooperation with Uber. When the
paratransit service funded and operated by the city closes at the end of normal
working hours, it is possible for a paratransit user to make use of Uber instead.
The city provides a subsidy for the Uber fare.