Smart Cities, Smart Mobility: Harnessing Geospatial Data for Inclusive Public Transit Planning

Abstract: This research presents a comprehensive analysis of contemporary urban transportation planning with a focus on public transportation, embodying a paradigm shift towards integrated and strategic planning. Leveraging large-scale geospatial datasets and innovative statistical methods, the projects undertaken in Delhi and Chennai provide a fine-grained urban mobility diagnostic, emphasizing multimodal approaches aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. In Delhi, the research delves into accessibility of services and transit demand assessment at ward levels, uncovering disparities in accessibility and proposing data-driven transit investment strategies. The findings highlight inefficiencies in transit networks and propose targeted improvements, emphasizing the significance of equitable transit access. In parallel, the Chennai study explores the potential of novel mobility datasets in connecting analytics with actionable policy insights, with a focus on dynamic transit origin-destination matrices, impact assessment of metro investments, and resilience analysis in the face of natural disasters. Notably, the research underscores the transformative impact of new metro lines on accessibility gains and resilience enhancement, particularly benefiting suburban areas. Furthermore, resilience analysis reveals significant disruptions to transit systems during cyclones, emphasizing the need for disaster-resilient transportation infrastructure. Collectively, these projects underscore the pivotal role of data-driven decision-making in shaping the future of public transportation, emphasizing the integration of socioeconomic, environmental, and citizen-centric factors. The insights garnered from these studies contribute to a broader understanding of the challenges and opportunities in urban transportation, paving the way for informed policy interventions and sustainable development in the realm of public transportation. This research provides a holistic perspective on the transformative potential of data-driven approaches in shaping the future of urban mobility and public transportation systems.