Signal 2: Mapping Nairobi’s Matatus
A popular mode of transportation in the city of Nairobi are minibuses known as Matatus; vibrantly colorful and known for blaring music. These buses are often quite chaotic and have an ad hoc based network, which causes up to hours of delay due to not having the right route or stop.
Digital Matatus, a novel research project in Nairobi conceived out of the collaboration between American and Kenyan universities, helped tackle this issue. The project involved using smartphones used by the crowd to track the routes and stops along their rides. This open data was used to collect and map out the entire Matatus network, in paper maps resembling subway-style maps.
In 2015, the Nairobi Matatus became the first informal transit system on Google maps, thus cementing its presence on a global scale, which was highly beneficial for frequent travelers and outsiders alike. Currently, Digital Matatus, in collaboration with Google is working on their second major update; improving their open GTFS data and collecting data on fares and quality of service as well.
Initiatives like Digital Matatus show how collaborative efforts in developing countries can help in collecting data and innovating processes that help the public. Similar ideas can be applied throughout the world.
References:
https://www.wired.com/2015/09/design-issue-future-of-cities/#chapter-6
