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TfL releases parking space info and traffic camera feeds to app developers
Date: 01 February 2016 | Author: Daniel Puddicombe
Transport for London has released open data feeds on the number of parking spaces in London Underground car parks, plus traffic camera footage, in an attempt to help app developers create time-saving apps.
The data, aimed at third-party app developers, is available for free, and has been released as part of a scheme to make the information TfL holds openly available to improve transport services for Londoners.
The feeds join a range of streams already available, including live travel information on TfL services, details of planned roadworks and live road incidents, which TfL claims "help millions of people plan their journeys around London each day."
Almost 500 mobile phone and online apps are already powered by TfL's open data, providing up-to-the-minute information about the capital's public transport and road networks.
TfL said the new data feeds should further help drivers better plan their journeys and contribute towards reduced congestion. Data being made available includes:
- London Underground car park data: Information about all 61 Underground station car parks is now available online, including location, cost and the number of spaces. For 23 of these, a feed is available to inform people how many spaces are currently being used.
- Video JamCams: As well as static images from TfL's "JamCams", which provide regularly updated images of the TfL road network across London, developers can now also access five second looped videos - similar to Vines - from TfL cameras. This allows people to see how traffic is moving along particular roads to help them understand live traffic conditions. The videos have also been incorporated into TfL's live traffic website - www.tfl.gov.uk/trafficnews
Future plans also include using historic and real-time data to provide more information on the predicted status of the public transport and road networks to provide customers with alerts in advance.
"Mobile devices and new sources of data are making it ever easier to help people avoid delay and manage their journeys," said Boris Johnson, mayor of London. "We are absolutely committed to making sure that we help people have easier journeys through the capital, and we are lucky enough to have a booming tech sector in London that is perfectly positioned to help us deliver on this commitment."
