In a previous article on Circulate, we explored the question of the value and potential for open data to positively impact cities. For understandable reasons, there are concerns about opening up large data sets, but there is evidence that significant benefit can be gained for cities by allowing data to be utilised. One example of that is London-based travel app, Citymapper, which uses a wide-range of data to help commuters to get from one place to another in the easiest and most efficient way possible.
Citymapper stands out among the many available travel and journey planning apps for the sheer abundance of information that it is able to provide. Users enter their desired destination and various routes and various modes of transport are available for selection, including information about calories burned and the potential costs involved like taxi prices. The features don’t stop there, it works with approximately 30 different cities’ transit systems and it’ll even buzz or ding if you’re on the bus to let you know you’re approaching your next stop, as well as providing real-time delays on potential traffic or transit delays.
Citymapper sources its data by synthesises a variety of open sources, including the maps developed by Apple and Google.
City planners wouldn’t list the development of effective forms of navigation information at the top of their priority list, but the emergence of mobile apps like Citymapper can be a part of a picture of improved city living. The impact of city citizens being better informed about their most effective travel routes is difficult to measure, but intuitively feels like it should be extremely valuable.
Examples like Citymapper excite fans of big data because they demonstrate the potential opportunities that come when you provide creative business minds with information and data.
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