Supply Constraints Analysis for Bus Operations Based on Multisource Data

Many cities in China are facing the problem of insufficient supply resources for bus systems, limiting the ability to implement optimization strategies for bus operations under complex operating environments. This paper examines the status of supply constraints in bus operations using the multisource data from road networks and bus systems. The supply constraints status evaluation index system is established by selecting vehicle supply, road facilities, and station facilities indices. Multisource data processing and matching technology is employed to analyze a bus line’s operational characteristics, such as stopping time, interstation running time, and passenger flow data. In particular, the bus line with the supply constraints status is characterized by the fact that the insufficient theoretical capacity for passenger travel demand, the lower speeds of the interstation, the longer intersection delays toward 40 s, and the station stopping delays with the larger median and the greater variability, which seriously affects the efficiency of bus operation. The adaptive dwell control and real-time speed-induced control strategies are proposed for bus operation optimization under the supply constraints status of the bus line at the different operating sections and stations during flat peak periods and peak periods. This paper presents the method to investigate the supply constraints status of bus operation based on multisource data to achieve the optimization of bus operation under complex operating environments.