How SWAT Mobility Transformed Hiroshima's Public Transport with Data-Driven Solutions

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Hiroshima, often referred to as the “bus city,” was renowned for its extensive and intricate bus network. With approximately 80 bus routes (HIROSHIMA-BUS CO, 2010) covering the urban area and its surroundings, the city’s buses had long been a lifeline for its residents and tourists alike. However, long-term demographic shifts—such as a declining population, low birth rates, and an aging society significantly decreased ridership and lowered vehicle utilisation. These challenges were further compounded by driver shortages, making it increasingly difficult for bus operators to maintain service levels.

The Turning Point: Data-Driven Decision Making

To address these pressing challenges, Hiroshima City collaborated with SWAT Mobility to develop the Hiroshima City Data Analysis System. Specialising in on-demand transportation systems, route bus traffic analysis, and logistics optimisation, SWAT Mobility was recognised for its world-class routing algorithms.

By leveraging robust data from the Hiroshima Prefecture Mobility Data Collaboration Platform, along with SWAT Mobility’s cutting-edge technology, the tool provided a comprehensive, visual representation of bus usage and service levels across the city. This platform reduced the time needed on manual analysis, providing a solid foundation for data-driven decision-making. This enabled Hiroshima City to identify necessary adjustments to bus services, optimise resource allocation, set policy targets, and monitor the impact of new initiatives. 

The system’s reliability and depth of analysis made it an indispensable tool, acting as a central hub to bridge the needs of administrative officials, transportation operators, and residents alike.

The SWAT Mobility Advantage

SWAT Mobility’s data analysis system was tested in a real-world demonstration on one of the city’s bus routes. By analysing boarding and alighting data, the system delivered actionable insights into user trends before and after the demonstration. It also tracked ridership changes on the demonstration route and its related routes, providing a comprehensive, quantitative summary of the experiment’s impact. 

SWAT Mobility’s expertise extended far beyond Hiroshima, providing on-demand transport solutions to over 70 municipalities across Japan. Additionally, the company has also provided boarding and alighting data analysis systems and traffic analysis to more than 20 municipalities and transportation operators nationwide, processing an impressive 200,000 data points daily. SWAT Mobility’s ability to visualise complex data and enable data-driven policy creation cemented its reputation as a trusted partner in addressing local public transportation challenges. Its solutions have proven to enhance operational efficiency, drive cost savings, and improve service quality.

A Brighter Future for Urban Mobility

Hiroshima’s collaboration with SWAT Mobility highlighted the potential of technology to address complex urban challenges. By leveraging data and advanced algorithms, cities were able to optimise their transportation networks, improve service levels, and ensure sustainability in the face of demographic and economic shifts.

Discover how SWAT Mobility can transform your city’s transportation system. Contact us today to learn more about our data-driven solutions.

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