The command center of Guiyang Public Security Bureau.. [Photo/epaper.gywb.cn]

Authorities in Guiyang have called on software developers to make full use of its big data incubator, which allows registered individuals and companies to access the city’s real time traffic data.

The open source cloud platform, set up by the Guiyang Public Security Bureau (GSPB) in September 2015, allows third party developers to come up with innovative applications of the data.

The incubator’s mission is twofold: to help the GSPB process the data to shape transportation policy and find traffic-reducing solutions, but also to empower people to make choices that make their lives easier. Where is the best place to hail a taxi? Should I leave the house a few minutes early?

Developers could, for example, access GPS data from thousands of public vehicles in the city or access data from video-monitoring equipment and traffic lights to determine driving patterns and give a real time picture of road usage.

Guiyang began using advanced technology to solve traffic problems in 2009 when it initiated its intelligent transportation system. With the help of analysis and data mining techniques from the Chinese Academy of Science’s Software Institute and Tokyo-based NTT Data, the city has combined its transportation infrastructure with big data analysis to come up with intelligent solutions to ease traffic congestion and shorten travel times.

“Any legally registered enterprise is accessible to the data,” said Li Ang, vice-head of the Guiyang administration of public security and traffic.

Since its launch, the incubator has already been put to good use. More than 1,000 individuals and 70 certified teams and enterprises have signed up to access the data and applications have already come to fruition.

One developer has allowed residents to make a little extra money by renting out their private parking spaces. By using location data from the individual’s car, the app can determine whether a parking space is available and allow others to rent the space.

The incubator has also helped local police strengthen its traffic rules. By linking up with developers, GPSB has introduced a system that uploads the results of alcohol breath tests in real time via 3G networks to a central system.

Edited by Jacob Hooson