NCSU Wolfline Bus Transit Visualization System
We’ve almost exhausted the conversation about online tracking of Raleigh buses, but this dialogue wouldn’t be complete without mentioning NC State’s Wolfline. The R-line’s tracking system is a quick and simple online outlet for information on one bus and the CAT bus system has an elaborate and cumbersome online presence. But, it is NC State’s Wolfline that has all the necessary ingredients to making a readable, simple and thorough online tracking system.
The Wolfline “Transit Visualization System” attaches colors to each bus route (which is what we said the CAT system needs), shows each bus moving in real-time, and has a simple filtering option for one or all the bus routes desired in the tracking window. This visualization tool is exactly what we wish the CAT system would be like. One thing we would like in the Wolfline’s interface is the “next two stops” information from the CAT system (when rolling over the bus flag). But, then again, the stops are indicated very well on the map, so is the actual time of arrival needed?
It looks like TransLoc, who made the Wolfline map, is hiring so maybe the city and Transloc should work out a deal to grab the best of each of these systems and create one graphical interface that ties them all together. Especially if I’m taking one bus system to the next, do I really want to have to visit three websites to plan my trip? Online Raleigh bus mashup website commence.
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Brian M.
02/16 01:08 PM
I disagree.
* The CAT system does include colorized routes and filtering. They are displayed as you select them in the area to the left of the map.
* The CAT system shows arrival predictions at any selected stop and has the ability to set an alert at a predetermined time before any future predicted arrival. The NCSU system only shows where the vehicles are right now.
* The NCSU system seems to be using Flash to simulate the movement of the buses - I doubt that they are transmitting actual bus positions every second. Flash makes it easy to smoothly move an icon between two positions.
* The CAT system lets me search for stops, look up schedules and see when my bus is actually going to arrive far enough in advance to not have to be staring at the screen all the time.
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bk
02/16 01:47 PM
TransLoc is also a local, downtown raleigh company ; their offices are on moore square.
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DPK
02/17 01:22 AM
I love Wolfline’s TransLoc system! It was actually started by some guys from NCSU and it’s kind of expanded to be the company it is. It’s really accurate. I use the Wolfline daily and if the map shows a bus coming down the street, it’s never steered me wrong yet!
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Chris McGarvey
02/17 06:27 PM
I think this concept of creating one graphical interface for all the triangle systems is very novel and the way to go. I hope the city and Transloc can work out a deal to pull this off. It makes no sense to have so many different interfaces, especially as we are trying to increase the ridership in the triangle. As a regular user of the bus system, I vote for the modern Transloc interface compared to the archaic CAT system.
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