Proposal for Japan's Community Bus Location System Using Blockchain
Abstract
In recent years, Japan's regional public transportation systems, particularly in rural areas, have been affected by population decline and aging. The expansion of areas with no public transportation due to the abolition or reduction of bus routes has become a serious problem. To address this issue, many local governments have introduced community buses. However, operating these services efficiently within limited budgets and human resources remains a challenge. Meanwhile, advancements in information and communication technology (ICT) have led to the development of new methods for improving the convenience of public transportation. Digital technologies that use standard formats, such as general transit feed specifications, are currently in progress. However, their use in regional public transportation remains limited. In this study, we developed and supported the implementation of ICT-based bus location system (BLS) and passenger counting system (PCS) to address regional public transportation issues. The BLS tracks real-time vehicle locations using mobile applications, providing passengers and operations with up-to-date information to improve convenience. The PCS enables drivers to record the number of passengers on and off through an application and analyze the data to optimize operation routes and timetables. These systems improve the convenience of regional public transportation and streamline local governments' operational management. However, to ensure data management and prevent tampering, certain issues must be addressed when implementing such systems. In particular, because public-transport data, such as general transit feed specifications (GTFS), are directly linked to passenger-movement information, there are concerns about the risk of unauthorized access and tampering. In this study, we improve the data reliability and strengthen tamper resistance by storing some GTFS data in a blockchain. Blockchain is distributed ledger technology that enables highly transparent data management while preventing data tampering. The proposed system was tested in a real-world operational environment to verify its effectiveness. The results demonstrated that introducing a blockchain improved the reliability of GTFS data and reduced the risk of unauthorized data modification. However, adding or updating data takes time due to the blockchain feature. In this study, we analyze the current challenges of regional public transportation in Japan and explain the proposed BLS and PCS in detail. In addition, we discuss data management methods that utilize blockchain technology and verify their effectiveness through system evaluation. Finally, we propose a sustainable development model for regional public transportation based on the results of this research.