Road Works API

Submitted by: Rob Dunfey

Describe your idea. How does it work and who does it help?

A public API of all roadworks would be made available that allows other organisations to build alert systems. For example, TomTom might use the API to include roadworks in their navigation products, Nokia might take the data to give location aware alerts via their mobile phones, local press could use the API to list local roadworks.

People would be less likely to be caught out by roadworks when commuting, meaning fewer stressed drivers and safer roads.

What information or services do you need?

Detailed mapping data would be required to underpin the service.

I assume roadwork data is currently being logged with local councils? If so timely access to this data would be necessary. If not a website would be built that allows such road works to be recorded.

The website would make it easy to recorded detailed information regarding the roadworks. Any organisations undertaking roadworks that are not recorded in the database would be liable to a fine to encourage participation.

Comments

[Sam Mbale on 02 July 2008 at 11:02 PM]

A public road works API would be very useful. The local authority in my area provides an RSS feed of current road works. I'm currently working on this site (http://richmondroadworks.googlemashups.com) but I have not yet got the RSS to GeoRSS conversion right. I'm interested to see how you develop your idea further, keep me informeed.

[Stuart on 02 July 2008 at 02:12 PM]

Have you seen this?

http://www.elgin.gov.uk

The "About" page holds some useful background information regarding where the data comes from. Here's a snippet: "The information is kept current by automatic data feeds from local authorities' back office systems. Elgin also exchanges road works information with similar systems managed by the Highway Agency and Transport for London."

The disparate datasets are collated into one system which is used to power the Elgin site. There is no API available to access this data, however.

[Jeni Tennison on 02 July 2008 at 01:14 PM]

Planned road works have to be listed within the (London) Gazette, so that should provide a reasonably good source of information, if it was exposed in a way that didn't involve you parsing natural language (we're working on it).

You can also get information about plans for new roads within the London Gazette, which would also be useful for a route finders who might want to use a Road Works API.

[David Thomas on 02 July 2008 at 12:41 PM]

Hi,

I like the sound of your idea. It could offer some great services like assigning your daily commute to a planner and then getting a text message that the route might be effected by roadworks. You could then revisit the site to get full information.

sounds good to me

[Shaw Green on 02 July 2008 at 12:37 PM]

This seems a nice idea to me. I assume local government has access to the roadwork schedule. Perhaps you could also link in other sources of information likely to impact traffic flow.

1. School runs, presumably local councils have access to school locations and likely dropping off / pickup times.

2. Public entertainment licenses. Big events I believe need licences so football matches / pop concerts etc could be added into such a system including routes to/from venue likely to be impacted along with timings etc.

[Rob on 02 July 2008 at 11:57 AM]

Hi Russell,

Thanks for pointing out the Scottish Road Works Register, I was unaware of the website.

I'm proposing a public road works API that can be queried programmatically, not a website displaying road works on a map. I visited the website you link to but find no method to access the underlying data? The value of the proposed API lies in the ability to query the resource programmatically, allowing others to integrate the information in their own systems and devices - rather than forcing people to a website.

I'm unaware of the background behind the website it seems to be operated by a company named Symology. Perhaps if I contact Symology, they will provide an API to the underlying information, but having scouted their website there is no mention of a public API that can be queried.

If I am wrong, and there is a public API, please point me in the right direction.

Just a note on the Scottish Roadworks Register website; the listed road works in Edinburgh are notably out of date, which essentially renders the service useless. If more organisations where using this service to provide services to their customers, such errors would not go unnoticed.

A publically accessible national road works API.

Rob

[Russell Barrie on 02 July 2008 at 10:55 AM]

See the above web address. This idea has alreasy been done!