“Open data” has been recognized globally as a resource for new growth. The recognition was triggered by some examples of innovations introduced by making information of public nature available or open. For instance, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 were taken as an opportunity to transform public transportation data as open data in London. As a result, many transportation apps and services were created. The economic effects of these in 2012 alone were said to be worth 9.8 billion yen. Developed countries have accumulated large amount of data. Simply making the data broadly accessible will produce beneficial results regardless of whether or not they are provided for free or a pay. Open data, which will not diminish in quantity by sharing, are expected to be valuable public resources in developed countries with decreasing development opportunities.
Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in Tokyo in 2020. Unlike London where the Transport for London operates all the public transportation services, there are many public transportation operators including private ones in Tokyo, and it takes time to make their data available as open data. So, a series of contests to promote open data for public transportation and let more people learn about innovation effect via open data has been held since FY2017. In the contests, we publish open data and let the contestants use it.
The immediate goal for utilization of public transportation open data is 2020 Tokyo Games. Even after the Games, I would like to maintain and utilize the platform that allows all people such as challenged people, elderly people and foreign visitors to move smoothly in Japan as a valuable legacy system. At the same time, I deem it important to establish a culture that creates innovations through contests like ours in Japan.
The “Open Data Challenge for Public Transportation in Tokyo” is the title of a series of contests that has been held by Association for Open Data of Public Transportation (ODPT), an NPO with 60 member organizations in collaboration with many public transportation operators as a stepping stone to move toward greater openness of public transportation data in Tokyo. It is a contest of the largest scale for open data in the public transportation sector in Japan. The data is provided by railway, bus, and airline operators operating in Tokyo. The third challenge is being held now.
For the second challenge of which the results will be announced at this venue today, transportation data have been provided by a total of 26 operators such as JR East, Tokyo Metro and Bureau of Transportation of Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Many data including static data such as timetables and many types of dynamic data such as location data of trains and buses are provided. In addition, the intra-station maps of major train stations are provided in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism this time. We received encouraging responses. There were about 500 registration including ones from overseas for participation, and about 60 applications and ideas in the end. The selection process was extremely difficult since there were many excellent projects. Eventually, we selected the recipients of the five awards and the special awards from the sponsoring organizations after careful deliberation at the judging meeting.
We deeply thank all the developers who submitted works full of originality and all other people who cooperated to make this contest a success, including the public transportation operators. We continue to work toward creating open data related to public transportation in the future. We deeply appreciate your continued support.
Chair of Association for Open Data of Public Transportation
Dean of Faculty of Information Networking for Innovation And Design (INIAD), Toyo University
Ken Sakamura
Ken Sakamura
Chair of Association for Open Data of Public Transportation,
Dean of the Faculty of Information Networking for Innovation And Design (INIAD), Toyo University
What can we produce by making the information about public transportation available to the public? The answers can be infinite in the sense that the developers all over the world use the data and turn their ideas into applications. Among the infinite possibilities, one thing that I wanted to see is the creation of services that are customized to people who find it difficult to move from one place to another including the physically challenged people.
In this contest, wonderful applications to help the physically challenged people to use the public transportation were submitted in large numbers. One such example "My Bus" is an app that allows the visually challenged people to check the bus timetable and the current position of the buses using voice only. The app has been selected as the Grand Award because it achieves the social inclusion of the challenged people and its high technical quality: It can be set up using voice only, for example.
For the Excellence Award, we selected the following four submissions that embody excellent ideas that use open data of public transportation. "dela-sh.info" is a website that allows one to check the delay of the current railway service at a glance. It seems very simple. However, there has not been a similar site before, and its pursuit for ease of understanding ought to be given high marks. "Tokyo Station 3D Viewer" is a website that allows one to inspect Tokyo station and the nearby underground malls in 3D using the intra-station map of Tokyo station which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has published for this contest. The web produces a very detailed view and its stylish design has received praise at the judging meeting. "Tokyo Train Alert" is an app that gives off alert when the station where one is supposed to get off the train approaches. This should help the foreign visitors to Tokyo to use the complicated train system with less difficulty. Overseas submission of this app to the contest that aims to solve issues in the year 2020 is worth noting. "Worker Step" is not a generic route search app. It goes one step further and pays attention to the real-time delay information as well. Real-time data will be used more fully in navigation apps in the future, and this app is an ambitious submission to reflect the future trend already.
The Judge’s Special Awards are given to the following submissions: "TokyoLines Ver.2.0," "relocate.tokyo," "TreNotti" and "TransitHQ - Tokyo Subway Directions API."
I feel that the second Open Data Challenge for Public Transportation in Tokyo has attracted more polished submissions than the first challenge. I sincerely hope that new services will be created and provided to help people to move in Tokyo smoothly in 2020 based on the ideas which we see today.
Hidetoshi Oono
Deputy Vice-Minister for Cyber Security and Information
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Open data of public transportation leads to enhance a delivery of information and contributes to improve more convenience for users. It is also expected to contribute to a smooth transportation during upcoming Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) is promoting open data in the field of public transportation. As a part of the activities, MLIT participated in the 2nd Open Data Challenge for Public Transportation in Tokyo as a co-host and provided intra-station maps and facility information of Tokyo, Shinjuku and nearby stations with the cooperation of railway companies.
I was surprised there are a number of applications that have various kinds of ideas and perspectives we never come up with. Besides, I felt future possibilities from applications for supporting people with limited mobility and ideas that can be applicable to local areas. It was a great contest that showed a strong power of open data.
MLIT continuously participates 3rd Open Data Challenge for Public Transportation in Tokyo and promotes open data in the field of public transportation.
Kyoko Kubara
Deputy Director General for ICT Strategy
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
I would like to express my appreciation and respect to all those who worked hard to enter the 2nd Open Data Challenge for Public Transportation in Tokyo.
Open data, in particular that of public transportation, are essential in view of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in 2020. Apps and web services using open data will be convenient for Japanese and overseas visitors to Tokyo and will convey the spirit of Japanese hospitality omotenashi. I also have high hopes for these services and spirit to become a legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The 2nd Open Data Challenge is, I believe, an important test of abilities one year prior to the Tokyo 2020 Games. Numerous works meeting that challenge were submitted to the contest. Some open data, including station floor plans and facility information, and airline data, had been published for the first time, but were immediately incorporated into new apps that were submitted. Some works were evolved versions of works from the 1st Open Data Challenge.
It is heartening to see so many apps that strive to make the living environment more comfortable for everyone with the aim to create a diverse city.
I sincerely hope that this trend will continue on to the 3rd Open Data Challenge.
Isao Sato
General Manager, Technology Innovation Headquarters, East Japan Railway Company
Through this 2nd Open Data Challenge for Public Transportation in Tokyo, we were expecting to see new idea to leverage the attractiveness of ‘Tokyo’ being brought to life, given the next Olympics coming up very soon. Also, we were looking forward to seeing how the intra-station data sets will add a new dimension to the outputs. With such high expectations, we went through each application very thoroughly and were delighted to find a number of masterpieces way beyond our thoughts.
All proposals were practical in terms of its applicability to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics and each output, apps for tourists and mobility impaired to name a few, were totally outside-of-the-box services. We were also fascinated by the people showing us the potential usage of the Public Transport Data through this challenge and its contribution to the branding of our megalopolis, Tokyo. I hope the event will be hosted in a regular basis to shape the future of public transportation, together.
We sincerely appreciate your participation. Thank you.
Koichi Murao
Senior Managing Director of Tokyo Metro
The second contest has been held providing much more data than the first contest.
The notable characteristics of the works submitted this time are that there are more submissions from overseas and there are more works to support the foreign tourists to Tokyo. I suppose that these changes are due to the approaching Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.
Three recipients of Tokyo Metro Special Awards have been selected based on the practical values for many visitors and novelty of the ideas in anticipation of the usage during the Games.
I have felt the potential of open data once again via the review of many apps that use open data.
I would like to express my sincere respect to the efforts by the contestants and appreciate their interest in participating in the second contest. I sincerely hope that the potential of open data will be acknowledged by more people thanks to this contest and that public transportation shall be used more conveniently and comfortably by the customers using open data. Tokyo Metro shall commit itself to the utilization of open data in the future.
"My Bus" is the smart solution for all people including people with low vision and blind.
Just talk with smart speaker “LINE Clova” to get location information of your bus which was set by synthesized voice.
Although Tokyo’s train network is arguably the best in the world, as a foreigner it can be a bit overwhelming to use. One issue that we have personally experienced is knowing when to get off the train. During busy periods, it can be difficult to see or hear the station name - especially as only the Japanese kanji or hiragana might be visible.
Thus, in light of the Olympics approaching, as well as the overall increase in tourism to Japan, we designed an easy-to-use mobile application which focuses on showing the user the progress of their journey on Tokyo train, metro and subway lines in real-time and alerts them to get off the train at their destination. Therefore, the app is also particularly useful for persons who are hard of hearing.
The application also works offline, where it uses the timetable data provided. This enables tourists who don’t have roaming mobile data available to take advantage of Tokyo’s extremely punctual train network. However, when live data is available, or the user updates the application using WiFi in the station for example, the application will also update for any delays on the line; making the data more accurate.
This web application is a 3D browser around Tokyo Station. This app allows you to see the cityscape, the map of the station, and the indoor map of the underground shopping street at one time.
Application : https://tokyo-station-3d-viewer.firebaseapp.com/
Manual：https://tokyo-station-3d-viewer.firebaseapp.com/manual.pdf
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYZaLMuqBRc
Platform: WebApplication
"dela-sh.info" visualizes the delay of railways by colored lines. Train location information provided officially by each railway company shows the position and delay information of individual trains in detail. On the other hand, it is hard to grasp the status of the railways in the larger area at once. "dela-sh.info" can show the delay information in the entire area, making you comfortable.
Application : http://dela-sh.info
Manual：Embedded in application
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/q_cjgV1MVNg
Platform: WebApplication
We produced an application for businessmen who used a railway frequently. “Worker Step” paid attention to the information of three points, "route", "delay", "rush" about the railway. The information is simulated and predicted based on real-time information.
Application : https://workerstep.work
Manual：https://howto.workerstep.work/
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/c23aNJTSwfU
Platform: WebApplication（Mobile）
TokyoLines Ver.2.0 is RouteMap and TimeTable App for railway and bus of Tokyo area.
In the Route Map screen, you can select your route sliding finger on the screen.
In Timetable screen with vertical scroll, next departure time is clear at glance.
Application : https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1358352348
Manual：http://www.coco-metro.net/tokyolines/
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/49ADHaMBDoY
Platform: iOS
The population of Tokyo is forecasted to increase, not just in 2020 but in the years to come, with more and more people choosing this city as their home.
The current railway network is already overcrowded and with a slow adoption of teleworking, commuting to work will be even more crucial to achieve life-work balance.
Even for tourists, choosing a conveniently located hotel is important to enjoy traveling around the city.
Due to the vast area of Greater Tokyo and the high number of rail lines, finding the most convenient place for a home or hotel is certainly a hard task, especially for people new to the city.
The application relocate.tokyo combines the travel time, the average rent price and the number of hotels, to find locations that can be reached with a given commute from any number of selected destinations.
Once you identify a convenient location, you can easily search for hotels or houses to rent through external providers.
Application : https://relocate.tokyo
Manual：https://piuccio.gitbook.io/relocate-tokyo/
Explanation video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Totmya4oPk
Platform: WebApplication
This app can receive push notification about Train Operating Status.
The apps like that is already exist. However, It is required to register railway lines that want to receive push notification in advance.
Information about specified railway will may be not want depends on the location.
On the contrary, User may be want Information about railway in near.
"TreNotti" can register railway line automatically by users location.
Application : http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1449296666
Manual：Embedded in application
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/LwSvG4LCby0
Platform: iOS
◇ Overview
Tokyo has one of the world's most complex transit systems. Finding efficient transit routes and directions in Tokyo is a problem faced daily by visitors and residents alike. This will especially be true during the 2020 Olympics.
TransitHQ is an API (application programming interface) that help developers solve this problem. Any developer can use this API to create apps that require trip planning capabilities. By using this API, they don't have to worry about how to calculate the best routes; they can just focus on creating the best possible user experiences.
The API provides extensive information about transit routes that developers can include in their apps. For example, if the routes found require transfers, information such as transfer platform, train number and times are provided. Moreover, the data format follow the Google Directions API - which is known to many developers.
◇ Features
Application : https://documenter.getpostman.com/view/6375424/RznJkbB5
Manual：https://tokyochallenge.odpt.org/2nd/award_data/manual/TransitHQ.pdf
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/6MO2eCVXiJ4
Platform: WebApplication
Public transport guide application for people going to see the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games
Application ：https://digitalsignpost.official.jp/
Manual：https://digitalsignpost.official.jp/manual.pdf
Explanation video（JPN）：https://www.youtube.com/embed/NRGBbOURPN4
Explanation video（ENG）：https://www.youtube.com/embed/WZCOxZJlcbQ
Platform：WebApplication
JIKKO-KUN is a LINE chatbot to look up the train times for seeing difficulties. You can get easily the train times by replying a few questions from JIKKO-KUN.
Application : https://line.me/R/ti/p/rDqXDIl52k
Manual：https://tokyochallenge.odpt.org/2nd/award_data/manual/JIKKO-KUN.pdf
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/3k2Q5JkRQ8U
Platform: Line
Application : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.Shin_yosha.NowStation
Manual：Embedded in application
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/9s5xHYltfC8
Platform: Android
This application enable us to go througn the complex station and change trains at Shinjuku. It consists three funcitons, current position estimation by sound, shortest route search, and direction guide by the sense of touch.
Application : https://shinjukustation.herokuapp.com/
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/q1Wsa2FFPzw
Platform: WebApplication（Mobile）
Idea document: https://hackmd.io/cZHkzUxBShKC4vmm7_YVrA
Idea document: http://www.kuroneko.qolpapp.com/ZZTOKYO/QOLP-Tokyo02-Shinjuku-Plan.pdf
"deru" is a solution that allows you to post and view the optimal route inside the station.
The station in Japan is getting bigger and more complicated, so that it's easy for even Japanese to get lost. There are already many map apps like Google Map, but it does not guide us from the station to the exit, that is, "inside the station". "deru" uses a landmark image and a guide to show the route from getting off to reaching the destination exit.
The name deru comes from "駅からスムーズに出る(deru)", which means "out of the station smoothly" in Japanese.
Idea document: https://tokyochallenge.odpt.org/2nd/award_data/document/deru.pdf
Application : http://fetan.kilo.jp/fetan/
Manual：http://fetan.kilo.jp/fetan/manual.html
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/wygaNult8xw
Platform: WebApplication
You can search for the nearest station/bus stop and see the route you want to ride and the location of the vehicle.
Application : https://roku.mydns.jp/TPT/Tindex.htm
Manual：https://roku.mydns.jp/TPT/doc/TPT2.pdf
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/FyiEPYYM9_4
Platform: WebApplication
Have you ever found it difficult to ride on a bus? "LACOOL" helps you to ride on a bus. It runs on LINE, the most popular SNS in Japan. Therefore, most people can use it readily without installing a new app.
Application : http://www.lecip.co.jp/openchallenge/
Manual：http://www.lecip.co.jp/openchallenge/pdf/instructions.pdf
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/-BnWnZko8vs
Platform: Line
Application : https://miyazaki-seminar.securesite.jp/classof2020/iStation
Manual：Embedded in application
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/AhirZtsEtOw
Platform: WebApplication（Mobile）
Tokyo Planner is an application for customizing travel plans for tourists traveling to Tokyo. This application divides points of interest you selected into several days and generates daily routes and plans. This application supports multiple languages so both Japanese users and foreigners can use this application easily.
Application : https://tokyochallenge.iniad.app/、https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tokyo-planner/id1447766375?mt=8
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/OY-hRwkriiQ
Platform：WebApplication、iOS
Idea document：https://tokyochallenge.odpt.org/2nd/award_data/document/Tokyo_Planner.pdf
Idea document: https://tokyochallenge.odpt.org/2nd/award_data/document/Train_transfer_app_for_wheelchair_users.pdf
Application : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.websarva.wings.android.bestflightshot
Manual：http://miyazaki-seminar.net/classof2020/public/e/BestFlightShot/manual/web_html/howto.html
Explanation video : https://www.youtube.com/embed/AnGV3jhz07o
Platform: Android
