Beginner's manual for GTFS-GO
Tags: qgis, gis, tutorial, opensource
Published: 2022-10-18 04:40:12

### Introduction

MIERUNE publishes multiple open source QGIS plugins as part of our effort to contribute back to the open source community.

The GTFS-GO plugin is one of the open source plugins that we have developed.

### What is GTFS?

GTFS is short for **General Transit Feed Specification**,and is an international standard for storing data on public transport services such as bus routes, schedules and fares. In recent years, bus and train operators around the globe have created and released an increasing amount of data in GTFS format. (Reference: [https://gtfs.org/](https://gtfs.org/))

GTFS data are actually stored in multiple csv files. The format allows machines to easily read GTFS data, but also causes it to be very difficult for humans to directly read GTFS data. In order to fully utilize and read data in GTFS format, tools or softwares are required, which is why GTFS-GO was developed.

### GTFS-GO

As data in the GTFS format retains the route and the location of of bus stops (= the order in which the bus stops as passed through), data in GTFS format can be plotted on maps through data analysis. Moreover, as data in GTFS format retains date and time data, it is possible to calculate the frequency of buses on a specific date. GTFS-GO is a plugin that allows the analysis of GTFS data with an easy-to-use user interface. Below is a simple guide that introduces how to use GTFS-GO. However, the guide assumes that QGIS is installed.

### Installation

- On the menu bar, click on “plugins” and “manage and install plugins”

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ho4pbcbi1aamlv3718lh.png)

- In the plugin management menu, search for GTFS-GO and install the plugin

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/6o5kk7rppb7o6dymlp9s.png)

- When GTFS-GO is installed, a blue bus icon will be displayed on the upper toolbar

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/6ka6n0q1jxv72j1gtl63.png)

The installation is completed when the icon is displayed.

### Plotting routes and bus stops with GTFS-GO

- Select a GTFS data from the pulldown menu, or select a ZIP file

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7domhow2b8v59webzw9h.png)

- After selecting the desired options, click on “load into QGIS”

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/44oo9yw1bndqvsp6zcan.png)

- The GTFS data will be shown on the map

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3909t2a2i6gnds1id1zf.png)

### Calculating frequencies

- Select or import the GTFS data of your choice (Same as above)

- Select “calculate frequencies” and input the desired date and requirements for calculating route frequencies


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/guo0dqdqdv7gdr8vaeej.png)

- Click on “Load into QGIS”

- The calculation results will be displayed on QGIS

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kgffpj3jicihabalqham.png)

### Conclusion

GTFS-GO is an open source plugin that welcomes contributions from bug reports to patches to fix the plugin. Even if you are not a developer, please feel free to file bug reports, points for improvement, or Github issues, as they will be reflected in the development plans for the plugin.

Reference: https://www.mierune.co.jp/blog/posts/k9s2tkoapgc?lang=ja