Safe Software’s FME® technology enables transit authority to streamline data-preparation process to create operational Google Transit application
Vancouver, BC, Sept 28, 2011 – Safe Software announced today that FME®, the leading spatial data transformation technology, has enabled BC Transit to drive the Kelowna Regional Transit System onto Google Transit. FME’s flexible, automated workflows and data transformation processes afforded the Victoria, BC-based organization the ability to complete complex data preparation tasks in minutes and develop a proven, end-to-end Google Transit application for the future. It is the latest example of how FME is helping transit authorities to fuel innovation and better their services to customers.
"BC Transit is a prime example of how transit authorities can use FME to turn their disparate data sources into business-specific, usable information to achieve their operational objectives," said Don Murray, President and Co-founder of Safe Software. "By allowing FME to manage data-interoperability challenges that can hinder development, authorities can give themselves the critically needed time and confidence to innovate, create and implement their initiatives."
Google Transit requires organizations to restructure and integrate a host of data, such as bus stop names and locations, into a specified format, which can present transit GIS departments with a daunting data-preparation challenge. To prepare for the Kelowna launch, BC Transit’s small team needed to identify and ensure the data accuracy of more than 850 bus stop locations and synchronize them with more than 6,100 weekly trips that BC Transit presently provides in the region.
FME’s intuitive graphical user interface enabled the BC Transit team to create a repeatable, automated workflow that quickly sources data from three different systems, integrates it, validates its quality and restructures the data into Google Transit’s format, all with a single mouse click. This significant time savings enabled the team to both launch Kelowna – its fifth system using FME – and establish the proven, operational data preparation process for future Google Transit additions.
"FME allowed us to reduce our data preparation process from days, sometimes weeks, to less than three minutes," said Michael Grant, BC Transit’s Manager of Monitoring and Forecasting. "The efficiency and quality-control assurance made it possible for our small team to launch another community on Google Transit. And the building block nature of FME’s repeatable workflows help to ensure that we can sustain our Google Transit offerings while affording us the time to develop other initiatives as well."
Having established the operational Google Transit workflow, BC Transit staff now have the data-preparation structure they need to continually oversee quality assurance and data validation as new routes are added to the Kelowna transit system or schedules are changed. With the communities of Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Victoria and now Kelowna online, BC Transit is actively working to expand the Google Transit program and will continue to focus on leveraging its spatial data to drive further innovation.
Organizations interested in learning more about FME are invited to view Safe Software’s on demand webinar "Intro to FME Desktop" or visit www.safe.com for more information.
About Safe Software and FME
Safe Software Inc. is the maker of FME® and the global leader in spatial data transformation technology. FME makes it possible to transform spatial data to use and share. It solves more spatial data transformation challenges across more formats than any other solution, making it easier for professionals to solve data interoperability headaches and help their organizations meet their business goals and required standards. Today, FME is the dominant technology for spatial data transformation. It powers our FME Desktop and Server software and the solutions of more leading spatial data application vendors than any other technology. It’s used by tens of thousands of customers worldwide across a wide range of industries. Learn more about achieving total spatial data mastery at www.safe.com.