This application visualizes public transportation vehicles moving through the City of Ulm, Germany. Since the transport authority does not provide a useable data feed, we decided to scrape the timetable data and converted them into the GTFS format. We then implemented a simple GTFS parser which emulates the emission of real time event information (though it's based on the static data we liberated from their timetable prison. We hope to eventually switch the backend event emitter to realtime data in the future. If anybody out there knows someone working at the Stadtwerke Ulm, please prod them a little nudge nudge). The events emitted by the GTFS parser are consumed by the web application, which renders a map and moves markers according to the estimated location of each vehicle.
This application is a contribution to the Node Knockout 2011 by UlmApi.de members. We implemented this proof-of-concept prototype within two days. It is intended to demonstrate what is possible by mashing cool technology and open data together, shaking it well and letting it boil for a while. It might also prove relaxing to watch. Except if you're using Firefox.
node.js: General platform
express.js: Middleware framework
Socket.IO: Messaging library
Leaflet: JavaScript mapping library
bootstrap: CSS template
We are a group of open data enthusiasts, mostly from the University of Ulm.
Copyright (c) 2011
Benjamin Erb
Simon Fuchs
Stefan Kaufmann
Michael Mueller
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