Transmodel
Encyclopedia
Transmodel is the CEN
European Reference Data Model for Public Transport
Information; it provides an abstract model of common public transport concepts and data structures that can be used to build many different kinds of public transport information system, including for timetabling, fares, operational management, real time data, journey planning
etc.
s, with coverage of a number of different subdomains of PT information, including transport network infrastructure and topology
, public transport schedules, journey planning
, fares, fare validation, real-time passenger information
and operational aspects of public transport
.
Transmodel establishes a consistent terminology for describing public transport concepts, providing definitive equivalents for use in the National Languages of each participant nation. Where PT related words in vernacular use may span a number of different concepts and lead to differences of interpretation, it establishes a more precise technical terminology for unambiguous use by PT information system developers. For example the terms 'trip', 'journey', 'service', are overlapping concepts that in Transmodel are used only in a more specific usages.
The current version of Transmodel is 5.1 with a 6.0 in draft.
(DGXIII), and national public institutions, in particular of the French Ministry of Transport (Direction des Transports Terrestres) and private companies.
More recently Transmodel has been fundamental to the development of a number of concrete national data models and European Standards, including TransXChange
(2001-2005 now the UK standard for bus timetables), Trident
(1999-2003), Service Interface for Real Time Information
(SIRI: 2001-2005, now a CEN technical specification) for Real-time data
exchange for buses, and Identification of Fixed Objects In Public Transport
(2006-2007), now a prCEN technical specification. Its provision of a uniform conceptual framework, consistent terminology and well grounded abstractions make it especially valuable for harmonising and modernising legacy standards and systems and for international cooperation.
In 2006 version 5.1 of Transmodel was formally adopted by CEN as a European standard, EN12896.
European Committee for Standardization
The European Committee for Standardization or Comité Européen de Normalisation , is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to foster the European economy in global trading, the welfare of European citizens and the environment by providing an efficient infrastructure to interested parties for...
European Reference Data Model for Public Transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
Information; it provides an abstract model of common public transport concepts and data structures that can be used to build many different kinds of public transport information system, including for timetabling, fares, operational management, real time data, journey planning
Journey Planner
A journey planner is a specialised electronic search engine used to find the best journey between two points by some means of transport. Journey planners have been widely used in the travel industry since the 1970s by booking agents accessed through a user interface on a computer terminal, and to...
etc.
Scope
Transmodel provides a comprehensive conceptual model for public transport information systems including passenger information systemPassenger information system
A passenger information [display] system is an electronic information system which provides real-time passenger information. It may include both predictions about arrival and departure times, as well as information about the nature and causes of disruptions...
s, with coverage of a number of different subdomains of PT information, including transport network infrastructure and topology
Topology
Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...
, public transport schedules, journey planning
Journey Planner
A journey planner is a specialised electronic search engine used to find the best journey between two points by some means of transport. Journey planners have been widely used in the travel industry since the 1970s by booking agents accessed through a user interface on a computer terminal, and to...
, fares, fare validation, real-time passenger information
Real-time locating system
Real-time locating systems are a type of local positioning system that allow to track and identify the location of objects in real time. Using simple, inexpensive badges or tags attached to the objects, readers receive wireless signals from these tags to determine their locations...
and operational aspects of public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
.
- It is documented and diagrammed as an entity-relationship modelEntity-relationship modelIn software engineering, an entity-relationship model is an abstract and conceptual representation of data. Entity-relationship modeling is a database modeling method, used to produce a type of conceptual schema or semantic data model of a system, often a relational database, and its requirements...
and in Unified Modeling LanguageUnified Modeling LanguageUnified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
(UML), accompanied by detailed descriptions of the concepts, elements and attributes needed to represent transport information. - It uses modern informational architecture principles to separate different concerns as independent layers.
- It makes extensive use of node and link concepts to describe individual transport information layers.
- It supports the reuse of transport information entities for different applications.
- It can represent multi-modal, multi-operator transport systems, with many different organisational structures, complex fare models, and different organisational practices.
Transmodel establishes a consistent terminology for describing public transport concepts, providing definitive equivalents for use in the National Languages of each participant nation. Where PT related words in vernacular use may span a number of different concepts and lead to differences of interpretation, it establishes a more precise technical terminology for unambiguous use by PT information system developers. For example the terms 'trip', 'journey', 'service', are overlapping concepts that in Transmodel are used only in a more specific usages.
The current version of Transmodel is 5.1 with a 6.0 in draft.
History
Transmodel was originally developed within a range of European projects of several European Programmes (Drive I, Drive II, TAP) with the support of the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
(DGXIII), and national public institutions, in particular of the French Ministry of Transport (Direction des Transports Terrestres) and private companies.
- Transmodel development started with the Cassiope project (1989-1991, Drive I programme). The results of Cassiope were then developed further by the EuroBus and Harpist (Drive II) projects. This produced Transmodel V4.1 ENV 12896 with a E/R “Oracle” formalism.
- The Telematics Applications Programme project TITAN (1996-1998) continued to validate and enhance Transmodel implementing it in three European pilot sites and has accompanied the standardisation process of Transmodel, voted in 1997 as the European experiental norm ENV 12896. This led to Transmodel V5.0: with multi-modality, real-time control, layers, and data versioning
- SITP: Système d'Information pour le Transport Public (Information System for Public Transport) started in 1999 under the sponsorship of the French Ministry of Transport, which supports the Transmodel site. SITP developed Transmodel V5.1, adding a UML formalism.
More recently Transmodel has been fundamental to the development of a number of concrete national data models and European Standards, including TransXChange
TransXChange
TransXChange is a UK national XML based data standard for the interchange of bus route and timetable information between bus operators, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, local authorities and passenger transport executives, and others involved in the provision of passenger information.The...
(2001-2005 now the UK standard for bus timetables), Trident
Trident
A trident , also called a trishul or leister or gig, is a three-pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and was also a military weapon. Tridents are featured widely in mythical, historical and modern culture. The major Hindu god, Shiva the Destroyer and the sea god Poseidon or Neptune are...
(1999-2003), Service Interface for Real Time Information
Service Interface for Real Time Information
The Service Interface for Real Time Information or SIRI is an XML protocol to allow distributed computers to exchange real time information about public transport services and vehicles....
(SIRI: 2001-2005, now a CEN technical specification) for Real-time data
Real-time data
Real-time data denotes information that is delivered immediately after collection. There is no delay in the timeliness of the information provided. Real-time data is often used for navigation or tracking....
exchange for buses, and Identification of Fixed Objects In Public Transport
Identification of Fixed Objects In Public Transport
IFOPT is a prCEN Technical Specification that provides a Reference Data Model for describing the main fixed objects required for public access to Public transport, that is to say Transportation hubs such as airports, stations, bus stops, ports, and other destination places and points of interest,...
(2006-2007), now a prCEN technical specification. Its provision of a uniform conceptual framework, consistent terminology and well grounded abstractions make it especially valuable for harmonising and modernising legacy standards and systems and for international cooperation.
In 2006 version 5.1 of Transmodel was formally adopted by CEN as a European standard, EN12896.
See also
- TransXChangeTransXChangeTransXChange is a UK national XML based data standard for the interchange of bus route and timetable information between bus operators, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, local authorities and passenger transport executives, and others involved in the provision of passenger information.The...
- Transport DirectTransport DirectTransport Direct is a division of the UK Department for Transport to develop better information technology systems to support public transport. It developed and operates the Transport Direct Portal which is a public facing multi-modal journey planner...
- Transport standards organisationsTransport standards organisationsTransportation systems are inherently distributed systems with complex information requirements. Robust modern standards for transportation data are important for the safe and efficient operation of transportation systems...
- Identification of Fixed Objects In Public TransportIdentification of Fixed Objects In Public TransportIFOPT is a prCEN Technical Specification that provides a Reference Data Model for describing the main fixed objects required for public access to Public transport, that is to say Transportation hubs such as airports, stations, bus stops, ports, and other destination places and points of interest,...
(IFOPT) - Service Interface for Real Time InformationService Interface for Real Time InformationThe Service Interface for Real Time Information or SIRI is an XML protocol to allow distributed computers to exchange real time information about public transport services and vehicles....
(SIRI)