In the Open real time interfaces in transport and traffic (LIIRA) project, the cities of Helsinki, Tampere, Turku and Oulu worked together to open up real-time traffic data APIs. The data sources consisted of public transport, traffic light, maintenance and parking data.
The project, which concluded on 30 September 2017, involved identifying and categorising different data sources by defining their potential for utilisation. The project’s focus was on data sources that could provide direct benefits and facilitate new business and services. The project leveraged cooperation between cities in opening up and implementing APIs and also involved the creation of shared APIs and operating methods.
Results of the LIIRA project
- The LIIRA project involved opening up traffic data APIs, which are now freely available for utilisation in the participating cities’ own data catalogues.
- The reference implementation model for opening up APIs that was deemed effective during the project will also benefit cities in the future, when the work is continued. In this model, one city opens up its data based on its own needs, after which the lessons learned can be utilised by other cities in their own implementations.
- The connections established between different city actors during the project and the positive attitude towards sharing information and lessons learnt will continue to influence the future of open traffic data.
- The project’s workshops and info sessions increased dialogue about open traffic data between software developers, companies and cities. This has allowed the needs and perspectives of companies to be better acknowledged in the development of open APIs, which will have a major impact on future efforts to open up data.
- The constantly expanding range of open APIs provides companies with additional business opportunities. Companies’ business operations are also supported by the developing role of cities as company cooperation partners and growth platforms for new services.
The project was implemented by the cities of Helsinki, Tampere, Turku and Oulu as well as the University of Tampere. The project was carried out between 1 August 2015 and 30 September 2017 and its budget was EUR 712 680.
See the data sets opened up by the cities in the data catalogue:
hri.fi
data.tampere.fi
data.lounaistieto.fi
data.ouka.fi
Further information
Johanna Joensuu, project manager
University of Tampere
johanna.joensuu(at)uta.fi
tel. +358 (0)50 437 7291