Origin-destination estimation system for a transportation system

1. A method of determining origin-destination (OD) data for a transportation system, the method comprising:

by a processing device, receiving passenger statistics collected from a plurality of data collection devices deployed throughout a transportation system;

by the processing device, developing a model representing passenger usage of at least a portion of the transportation system, the model comprising a network that comprises:

a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents a geographical area of the transportation network, and

a plurality of links, wherein each of the plurality of links represents one or more transportation routes that connect two of the plurality of nodes;

by the processing device, determining link utilization rates for each of the plurality of links by applying the passenger statistics to the model, wherein each link utilization rate represents a measurement of passenger usage of its corresponding link;

for each link, by the processing device:

determining a cost of the link based on at least computing a proportion of passengers that travel over that link, and

using each determined cost to determine a likelihood that a passenger will select the link to reach a destination;

by the processing device, generating an observation report comprising each determined likelihood for each link and an origin-destination matrix for at least the portion of the transportation system so that the origin-destination matrix comprises the determined link utilization rates; and

outputting, by the processing device, a results set including at least a portion of the observation report.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, by the processing device:

receiving a time period for the observation report; and

when determining the link utilization rates, using passenger statistics that correspond to the received time period.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein developing the model comprises:

determining a plurality of geographical areas included within the transportation system;

determining the plurality of nodes, so that each of the nodes is associated with one of the determined geographical areas;

determining the plurality of links so that each of the links represents a transportation route between two nodes using a transportation system vehicle or via walking; and

for each of the plurality of links, determining an associated cost.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the plurality of geographical areas comprises:

receiving, via a user interface, a user geographic selection;

using the user geographic selection to determine a plurality of transportation analysis zones; and

using the determined transportation analysis zones to determine a plurality of combined analysis zones, wherein each combined analysis zone comprises one or more transportation analysis zone and is determined based upon geographic similarity or common public use of the transportation analysis zones comprised therein.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the link utilization rate for each link comprises:

determining sub-ink utilization rates for a plurality of sub-links that comprise the link;

estimating an overall link utilization rate for passengers who traveled across all sub-links that make up the link; and

using the estimated link overall utilization rate as the determined link utilization rate.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a link type, wherein the link type comprises at least a stop connector link, a walking link, or a centroid connector link.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a link type for each link; and

including each determined link type in the utilization report.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the results set comprises one or more of the following: an ordered listing of OD information, a filtered listing of OD information, an OD matrix, or a geographical representation having OD information included therein.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data collection devices comprise automated passenger count devices, and the method further comprises:

by the automated passenger count devices, collecting the passenger statistics; and

sending the passenger statistics to the processing device.

10. A system for determining origin-destination data for a transportation system, the system comprising:

a processing device;

an output device comprising a display or printer; and

a computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive passenger statistics collected from a plurality of data collection devices deployed throughout a transportation system,

develop a model representing passenger usage of at least a portion of the transportation system, wherein the model comprises:

a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents a geographical area of the transportation network, and

a plurality of links, wherein each of the plurality of links represents one or more transportation routes that connect two of the plurality of nodes,

determine link utilization rates for each of the plurality of links by applying the passenger statistics to the model, wherein each link utilization rate represents a measurement of passenger usage of its corresponding link,

for each link:

determine a cost of the link based on at least computing a proportion of passengers that travel over that link, and

use each determined cost to determine a likelihood that a passenger will select the link to reach a destination,

generate an observation report comprising each determined likelihood for each link and an origin-destination matrix for at least the portion of the transportation system so that the origin-destination matrix comprises the determined link utilization rates; and

causing the printer or display to output a results set including at least a portion of the observation report.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising additional programming instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a time period for the observation report; and

when determining the link utilization rates, use passenger statistics that correspond to the received time period.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions to develop the model comprise instructions to:

determine a plurality of geographical areas included within the transportation system;

determine the plurality of nodes, so that each of the nodes is associated with one of the determined geographical areas;

determine the plurality of links so that each of the links represents a transportation route between two nodes using a transportation system vehicle or via walking; and

for each of the plurality of links, determine an associated cost.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to determine the plurality of geographical areas comprise instructions to:

output a user interface;

receive, via the user interface, a user geographic selection;

use the user geographic selection to determine a plurality of transportation analysis zones; and

use the determined transportation analysis zones to determine a plurality of combined analysis zones, wherein each combined analysis zone comprises one or more transportation analysis zone and is determined based upon geographic similarity or common public use of the transportation analysis zones comprised therein.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions to determine the link utilization rate for each link comprise instructions to:

determine sub-ink utilization rates for a plurality of sub-links that comprise the link;

estimate an overall link utilization rate for passengers who traveled across all sub-links that make up the link; and

use the estimated link overall utilization rate as the determined link utilization rate.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

the data collection devices, wherein the data collection devices comprise automated passenger count devices that are configured to collect the passenger statistics and send the passenger statistics to the processing device.

16. A system for determining origin-destination data for a transportation system, the system comprising:

a processing device;

an output device; and

a non-transitory computer-readable memory containing programming instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive passenger statistics collected from a plurality of data collection devices deployed throughout a transportation system,

develop a model representing passenger usage of at least a portion of the transportation system, wherein the model comprises:

a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the plurality of nodes represents a geographical area of the transportation network, and

a plurality of links, wherein each of the plurality of links represents one or more transportation routes that connect two of the plurality of nodes,

determine link utilization rates for each of the plurality of links by applying the passenger statistics to the model and:

for at least one of the links, determining sub-ink utilization rates for a plurality of sub-links that comprise the link, and

estimating an overall link utilization rate for passengers who traveled across all sub-links that make up the link, and using the estimated link overall utilization rate as the determined link utilization rate, for each link:

determining a cost of the link based on at least computing a proportion of passengers that travel over that link, and

using each determined cost to determine a likelihood that a passenger will select the link to reach a destination,

generate an observation report comprising:

each determined likelihood for each link,

an origin-destination matrix for at least the portion of the transportation system so that the origin-destination matrix comprises the determined link utilization rates, and

the determined cost for each link, and

cause the printer or display to output a results set including at least a portion of the observation report.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

the data collection devices, wherein the data collection devices comprise automated passenger count devices that are configured to collect the passenger statistics and send the passenger statistics to the processing device.