GTFS shape mapfit

GTFS shape mapfit is a Python tool that aligns GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) shape files and stop locations to a given OpenStreetMap (OSM) map file. It uses the pymapmatch library for map matching, providing a method to correct or improve the spatial accuracy of transit data against real-world road networks. This process is essential for creating more accurate transit visualizations, routing, and analysis by ensuring that bus, tram, subway, and train routes correspond correctly to the underlying map infrastructure.

Key Features

• Map Matching — Uses pymapmatch to fit GTFS shapes and stops to OSM map data, usually with high accuracy.
• Bounding Box Optimization — Includes a script (shapes_bbox.py) to calculate the optimal map area, reducing memory and computation time.
• Projection Support — Allows specification of map projections via PROJ.4 strings to ensure geographic accuracy.
• Error Handling — Detects and logs bad fits, falling back to original data when necessary to maintain reliability.
• Performance Scaling — Processing time scales nearly linearly with the number of CPU cores, supporting efficient handling of large datasets.

Philosophy

The tool prioritizes practical accuracy and reliability in aligning transit data with real-world maps, using established libraries and straightforward scripting to automate a complex geospatial task.