Difference between revisions of "Mobility Data Specification"

From TransitWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Adding citations)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
 +
[[Category: Technology]]
 +
 
== Introduction ==
 
== Introduction ==
  
Mobility Data Specification (MDS) is a standard for exchanging data between mobility operators and cities or other regulators. Consisting of several APIs, it allows agencies to analyze data from mobility operators in a standardized format as well as implement regulation digitally. Although currently focused on dockless scooters, bikeshare, and carshare; MDS has the capacity to expand to additional transportation modes and services<ref name=github>Open Mobility Foundation. "Mobility Data Specification" accessed via Github November 14 2019. https://github.com/openmobilityfoundation/mobility-data-specification</ref>.
+
Mobility Data Specification (MDS) is a standard for exchanging data between mobility operators and cities or other regulators. Consisting of several APIs, it allows agencies to analyze data from mobility operators in a standardized format as well as implement regulation digitally. Although currently focused on dockless scooters, bikeshare, and carshare; MDS has the capacity to expand to additional transportation modes and services<ref name="github">Open Mobility Foundation. "Mobility Data Specification" accessed via Github November 14 2019. https://github.com/openmobilityfoundation/mobility-data-specification</ref>.
  
 
== History of MDS ==
 
== History of MDS ==
  
MDS was developed by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) in 2018, with the first version released in May of that year<ref name=zipper />. As of November 2019, governance of MDS has been transfered to the Open Mobility Foundation <ref name=omf>Open Mobility Foundation. "FAQ| Open Mobility Foundation" accessed November 14 2019. https://www.openmobilityfoundation.org/faq/</ref>. OMF members include cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Santa Monica, as well as shared mobility providers and nonprofits. The foundation is governed by a board consiting of city and county transportation officials<ref name=omf />.
+
MDS was developed by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) in 2018, with the first version released in May of that year<ref name="zipper" />. As of November 2019, governance of MDS has been transferred to the Open Mobility Foundation <ref name="omf">Open Mobility Foundation. "FAQ | Open Mobility Foundation" accessed November 14 2019. https://www.openmobilityfoundation.org/faq/</ref>. OMF members include cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Santa Monica, as well as shared mobility providers and nonprofits. The foundation is governed by a board consisting of city and county transportation officials<ref name="omf" />.
  
 
== Components of MDS ==
 
== Components of MDS ==
Line 15: Line 18:
 
=== Provider ===
 
=== Provider ===
  
The Provider API is designed to be implemented by mobility operators. Regulatory agencies can query the provider API to request historical information on trips and vehicle status<ref name=github />.  
+
The Provider API is designed to be implemented by mobility operators. Regulatory agencies can query the provider API to request historical information on trips and vehicle status<ref name="github" />.  
 
=== Agency ===
 
=== Agency ===
  
The Agency API is designed to be implemented by regulatory agencies. Providers query the Agency API when certain events occur in their systems, such as trip starts<ref name=github />.  This allows agencies to monitor mobility services in real-time.
+
The Agency API is designed to be implemented by regulatory agencies. Providers query the Agency API when certain events occur in their systems, such as trip starts<ref name="github" />.  This allows agencies to monitor mobility services in real-time.
  
 
=== Policy ===
 
=== Policy ===
  
The Policy API is designed to be implemented by regulatory agencies. It contains whatever local rules an agency may set that affect the operation of mobility services<ref name=github />. For example, it may set a lower speed limit for scooters downtown, or ban them from a certain block while a farmer’s market is in operation. Unlike the agency API, it need not be queried in real-time. The MDS specification envisions that individual regulatory bodies will specify minimum refresh intervals sufficient to inform operators of rule changes.
+
The Policy API is designed to be implemented by regulatory agencies. It contains whatever local rules an agency may set that affect the operation of mobility services<ref name="github" />. For example, it may set a lower speed limit for scooters downtown, or ban them from a certain block while a farmer’s market is in operation. Unlike the agency API, it need not be queried in real-time. The MDS specification envisions that individual regulatory bodies will specify minimum refresh intervals sufficient to inform operators of rule changes.
 
 
 
 
  
  
Line 33: Line 34:
 
== Privacy Concerns ==
 
== Privacy Concerns ==
  
Because MDS provides data on individual vehicles and trips, it has been the subject of privacy concerns. Although MDS data does not include personal information about the user, it is possible that vehicle route data, origin/destination data, and vehicle id data could be de-anonymized and used to track individuals <ref name=zipper>David Zipper. "Cities Can See Where You’re Taking That Scooter" April 2 2019. https://slate.com/business/2019/04/scooter-data-cities-mds-uber-lyft-los-angeles.html</ref>. While the detailed data that MDS provides is clearly a huge asset to regulators, it must be balanced with strict privacy and data protection measures.
+
Because MDS provides data on individual vehicles and trips, it has been the subject of privacy concerns. Although MDS data does not include personal information about the user, it is possible that vehicle route data, origin/destination data, and vehicle id data could be de-anonymized and used to track individuals <ref name="zipper">David Zipper. "Cities Can See Where You’re Taking That Scooter" "Slate." April 2 2019. https://slate.com/business/2019/04/scooter-data-cities-mds-uber-lyft-los-angeles.html</ref><ref>Montjoye et. al. "Unique in the Crowd: The privacy bounds of human mobility" "Nature." 2013. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01376</ref>. While the detailed data that MDS provides is clearly a huge asset to regulators, it must be balanced with strict privacy and data protection measures.
  
 
== Transit-Related Uses for MDS ==
 
== Transit-Related Uses for MDS ==
Line 39: Line 40:
 
=== Current ===
 
=== Current ===
  
MDS data can be used to help inform transit planning by providing data on how many dockless mobility trips start or end at transit stops. An agency might incorporate this data into their first and last mile plans to ensure adaquate parking areas are provided for the number of devices at the stop. Routes to and from the stop could also be analyzed to guide agencies in placing bike lanes and other access improvements.
+
MDS data can be used to help inform transit planning by providing data on how many dockless mobility trips start or end at transit stops. An agency might incorporate this data into their first and last mile plans to ensure adequate parking areas are provided for the number of devices at the stop. Routes to and from the stop could also be analyzed to guide agencies in placing bike lanes and other access improvements.
  
MDS data could also be used to provide transit riders with real-time information about dockless mobility options at transit stops. Agencies could leverage existing automated announcement systems and passenger information displays to announce the number of dockless mobility devices available and their operators, enhancing conveinence for riders who use those services.
+
MDS data could also be used to provide transit riders with real-time information about dockless mobility options at transit stops. Agencies could leverage existing automated announcement systems and passenger information displays to announce the number of dockless mobility devices available and their operators, enhancing convenience for riders who use those services.
  
 
Because of its two-way nature, MDS could also be used by transit agencies to provide information to dockless mobility riders. Agencies may wish to provide information about transit services to riders approaching a transit stop. This information could remind people who don’t normally use transit about the transit services available, and/or provide familiar transit riders with real-time departure information to help them make a more convenient transfer. Agencies could also remind riders about rules for parking the devices at transit stops, and evaluate compliance.
 
Because of its two-way nature, MDS could also be used by transit agencies to provide information to dockless mobility riders. Agencies may wish to provide information about transit services to riders approaching a transit stop. This information could remind people who don’t normally use transit about the transit services available, and/or provide familiar transit riders with real-time departure information to help them make a more convenient transfer. Agencies could also remind riders about rules for parking the devices at transit stops, and evaluate compliance.
Line 47: Line 48:
 
=== Evolving ===
 
=== Evolving ===
  
Although currenty used for dockless mobility devices such as scooters and dockless bikeshare, MDS is designed to expand to other mobility-as-a-service providers including ridesourcing/Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft. If regulators are successful in incorporating these services into MDS, transit agencies will be able to leverage MDS to evaluate and enforce compliance with rules prohibiting TNCs from picking up passengers at bus stops or driving in bus-only lanes.
+
Although currently used for dockless mobility devices such as scooters and dockless bikeshare, MDS is designed to expand to other mobility-as-a-service providers including ridesourcing/Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft. If regulators are successful in incorporating these services into MDS, transit agencies will be able to leverage MDS to evaluate and enforce compliance with rules prohibiting TNCs from picking up passengers at bus stops or driving in bus-only lanes.
  
 
=== Future ===
 
=== Future ===
Line 53: Line 54:
 
While MDS does not currently support prospective trips, if this capability is added it may be useful for managing paratransit service in collaboration with other operators. Operators could use MDS to share timing and route details for upcoming paratransit trips, allowing them to more effectively match customers to planned trips. As costs for paratransit continue to increase, this could help agencies run more efficient service– especially in areas with multiple paratransit operators that aren’t currently integrated. A similar system could be used to arrange non-emergency medical transportation.
 
While MDS does not currently support prospective trips, if this capability is added it may be useful for managing paratransit service in collaboration with other operators. Operators could use MDS to share timing and route details for upcoming paratransit trips, allowing them to more effectively match customers to planned trips. As costs for paratransit continue to increase, this could help agencies run more efficient service– especially in areas with multiple paratransit operators that aren’t currently integrated. A similar system could be used to arrange non-emergency medical transportation.
  
It’s also possible that cities could eventually request transit agencies to implement MDS on their vehicles, sharing detailled information about transit service to city agencies responsible for managing the street network. While this would present a challenge around implementing the proper hardware for buses to interact with MDS, it could help support inter-agency cooperation.
+
It’s also possible that cities could eventually request transit agencies to implement MDS on their vehicles, sharing detailed information about transit service to city agencies responsible for managing the street network. While this would present a challenge around implementing the proper hardware for buses to interact with MDS, it could help support inter-agency cooperation.
  
=== References ===
+
== References ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 
== Additional Reading ==
 
== Additional Reading ==
  
[https://ladot.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/TransportationTechnologyStrategy_2016.pdf ''Urban Mobility in a Digital Age'' (LADOT Strategy White Paper, 2016)]
+
Los Angeles Department of Transportation. [https://ladot.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/TransportationTechnologyStrategy_2016.pdf ''Urban Mobility in a Digital Age'']. (2016)
 +
:Document guiding LADOT's vision for digital urban mobility applications and regulation. Predates introduction of MDS.
  
[https://github.com/openmobilityfoundation/mobility-data-specification MDS on Github (now maintained by Open Mobility Foundation)]
+
Open Mobility Foundation. [https://github.com/openmobilityfoundation/mobility-data-specification MDS on Github] (2019)
 +
:Top-level Github page for MDS. Includes information in "README.md" at top-level as well as specific to each API.
  
[https://medium.com/populus-ai/finding-the-right-balance-between-mobility-data-sharing-in-cities-and-personal-privacy-78d941d07908 ''Finding the right balance between mobility data-sharing in cities and personal privacy'' (Regina Clewlow, Populus)]
+
Regina Clewlow [https://medium.com/populus-ai/finding-the-right-balance-between-mobility-data-sharing-in-cities-and-personal-privacy-78d941d07908 ''Finding the right balance between mobility data-sharing in cities and personal privacy''] (2019)
 +
:Article outlining some potential privacy concerns with MDS.

Latest revision as of 23:51, 14 November 2019


Introduction

Mobility Data Specification (MDS) is a standard for exchanging data between mobility operators and cities or other regulators. Consisting of several APIs, it allows agencies to analyze data from mobility operators in a standardized format as well as implement regulation digitally. Although currently focused on dockless scooters, bikeshare, and carshare; MDS has the capacity to expand to additional transportation modes and services[1].

History of MDS

MDS was developed by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) in 2018, with the first version released in May of that year[2]. As of November 2019, governance of MDS has been transferred to the Open Mobility Foundation [3]. OMF members include cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Santa Monica, as well as shared mobility providers and nonprofits. The foundation is governed by a board consisting of city and county transportation officials[3].

Components of MDS

MDS consists of three APIs: Provider, Agency, and Policy.

Event States: MDS Agency, Provider APIs

Provider

The Provider API is designed to be implemented by mobility operators. Regulatory agencies can query the provider API to request historical information on trips and vehicle status[1].

Agency

The Agency API is designed to be implemented by regulatory agencies. Providers query the Agency API when certain events occur in their systems, such as trip starts[1]. This allows agencies to monitor mobility services in real-time.

Policy

The Policy API is designed to be implemented by regulatory agencies. It contains whatever local rules an agency may set that affect the operation of mobility services[1]. For example, it may set a lower speed limit for scooters downtown, or ban them from a certain block while a farmer’s market is in operation. Unlike the agency API, it need not be queried in real-time. The MDS specification envisions that individual regulatory bodies will specify minimum refresh intervals sufficient to inform operators of rule changes.




Privacy Concerns

Because MDS provides data on individual vehicles and trips, it has been the subject of privacy concerns. Although MDS data does not include personal information about the user, it is possible that vehicle route data, origin/destination data, and vehicle id data could be de-anonymized and used to track individuals [2][4]. While the detailed data that MDS provides is clearly a huge asset to regulators, it must be balanced with strict privacy and data protection measures.

Transit-Related Uses for MDS

Current

MDS data can be used to help inform transit planning by providing data on how many dockless mobility trips start or end at transit stops. An agency might incorporate this data into their first and last mile plans to ensure adequate parking areas are provided for the number of devices at the stop. Routes to and from the stop could also be analyzed to guide agencies in placing bike lanes and other access improvements.

MDS data could also be used to provide transit riders with real-time information about dockless mobility options at transit stops. Agencies could leverage existing automated announcement systems and passenger information displays to announce the number of dockless mobility devices available and their operators, enhancing convenience for riders who use those services.

Because of its two-way nature, MDS could also be used by transit agencies to provide information to dockless mobility riders. Agencies may wish to provide information about transit services to riders approaching a transit stop. This information could remind people who don’t normally use transit about the transit services available, and/or provide familiar transit riders with real-time departure information to help them make a more convenient transfer. Agencies could also remind riders about rules for parking the devices at transit stops, and evaluate compliance.

Evolving

Although currently used for dockless mobility devices such as scooters and dockless bikeshare, MDS is designed to expand to other mobility-as-a-service providers including ridesourcing/Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft. If regulators are successful in incorporating these services into MDS, transit agencies will be able to leverage MDS to evaluate and enforce compliance with rules prohibiting TNCs from picking up passengers at bus stops or driving in bus-only lanes.

Future

While MDS does not currently support prospective trips, if this capability is added it may be useful for managing paratransit service in collaboration with other operators. Operators could use MDS to share timing and route details for upcoming paratransit trips, allowing them to more effectively match customers to planned trips. As costs for paratransit continue to increase, this could help agencies run more efficient service– especially in areas with multiple paratransit operators that aren’t currently integrated. A similar system could be used to arrange non-emergency medical transportation.

It’s also possible that cities could eventually request transit agencies to implement MDS on their vehicles, sharing detailed information about transit service to city agencies responsible for managing the street network. While this would present a challenge around implementing the proper hardware for buses to interact with MDS, it could help support inter-agency cooperation.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Open Mobility Foundation. "Mobility Data Specification" accessed via Github November 14 2019. https://github.com/openmobilityfoundation/mobility-data-specification
  2. 2.0 2.1 David Zipper. "Cities Can See Where You’re Taking That Scooter" "Slate." April 2 2019. https://slate.com/business/2019/04/scooter-data-cities-mds-uber-lyft-los-angeles.html
  3. 3.0 3.1 Open Mobility Foundation. "FAQ | Open Mobility Foundation" accessed November 14 2019. https://www.openmobilityfoundation.org/faq/
  4. Montjoye et. al. "Unique in the Crowd: The privacy bounds of human mobility" "Nature." 2013. https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01376

Additional Reading

Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Urban Mobility in a Digital Age. (2016)

Document guiding LADOT's vision for digital urban mobility applications and regulation. Predates introduction of MDS.

Open Mobility Foundation. MDS on Github (2019)

Top-level Github page for MDS. Includes information in "README.md" at top-level as well as specific to each API.

Regina Clewlow Finding the right balance between mobility data-sharing in cities and personal privacy (2019)

Article outlining some potential privacy concerns with MDS.