Transmodel

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Transmodel (formally CEN TC278, Reference Data Model For Public Transport, ENV12896) 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.

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[edit] Scope

Transmodel provides a comprehensive conceptual model for public transport information systems including passenger information systems, 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.

  • It is documented and diagrammed as an Entity Relationship model and in 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.

[edit] 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 Commission (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 (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.

[edit] References

  • CEN TC278, Reference Data Model For Public Transport, ENV12896

[edit] See also

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