OD Visualiser - a tool to understand and analyse transport matrix data in low-income countries

Origin-destination (OD) matrices are a common data format used in transport planning, for understanding 'flows' of passengers, freight, or vehicles and making decisions. However, expensive modelling software or considerable geographic information systems (GIS) expertise is often needed to process and understand the mapping associated, and turn it into actionable intelligence. We therefore want to lower the boundaries for transport practitioners (city planners, bus operators, other consultancies) to be able to make **data-led decisions** - with better understanding of the outputs of complex modelling tools and the ability to rapidly exploit emerging sources of data such as mobile phone records.

Integrated Transport Planning Ltd (ITP) has developed a proof-of-concept prototype which presents a usable mapping-based online interface for understanding OD matrix data. Users are able to click on zones, see zone-to-zone flows, and aggregate and query statistics 'between' pairs or sets of zones. This is fundamental to managing accurate and timely decision-making for public transport and active travel -- more important than ever in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic and resulting global recession.

Through this project, we aim to improve the data loading and usability features of this prototype. Intended to be able to process zone OD data and geography from a number of common formats, the tool will automate many of the preprocessing steps required and permit uploading of custom geographic data of different types. The project aims for the OD Visualisation tool to reach a standard that we can better exploit both internally as a company, and through collaboration with our partners in the UK and internationally.

Reducing the need for GIS expertise and time consuming data manipulation in understanding transport models will have a significant benefit for sustainability worldwide, as city governments and service operators meet the challenges of recovering from COVID-19 and aim to encourage greater use of public transport and walking and cycling. The ability to rapidly understand OD data from different sources will also greatly improve ITP's (and that of other smaller consultancies and partners) competitiveness with larger transport planning consultancies, who have often been the only parties with the resources for deploying large-scale transport modelling.