Shift allocation tool for survey sampling

Client: Public Transport Victoria

To support our statistical survey design work with PTV, we developed an R algorithm that combines public transport timetables, spatial transport network data and statistical sampling rules to automate the process of allocating shifts for survey field data collectors. Traditional ‘journey planner’ applications were insufficient as the surveyor needed to start and end at the same location, but travel through a series of trips and locations in order to maximise efficiency whilst maintain statistically robust sampling. The tool combined statistical sampling techniques, public data timetable feeds and business logic rules.