From the chaos of more than 300 interfaces to a single view — “National traffic information database” revolutionizes the use of traffic data

National traffic information database in a nutshell:

• Harmonizes public transport data from more than 300 interfaces into a single service: real-time schedule information on different public transport vehicles
• Allows for a common situational overview among industry players
• Contains and summarizes historical data, which supports the use of artificial intelligence now and in the future
• Available at: https://mobility.mobility-database.fintraffic.fi/fi
• Built in close collaboration with Fintraffic, Traficom and Weasel Software

It is a nationally important service that will influence how future public transport in Finland is planned. The integration service is an infrastructure that enables the development of data-driven public transport in Finland — and in the future also internationally!

“The build service serves as a model for how to build a coherent, impactful entity from fragmented traffic data — and its concept is also scalable to international needs,” says Project Manager Petri Konkka from Weasel Software.

Before National traffic information database: Patchwork of over 300 interfaces

In the past, utilization of traffic services data was significantly more difficult, as the data collected from public transport was fragmented into more than 300 different interfaces, and there were many duplications and contradictions in these interfaces. For example, the same operator — say, Länsilinjat — could appear under different names on different services, depending on spelling. Each operator also had their own stops, designated according to their own protocol.

“Before, the creation of a nationwide public transport or mobility service required a software project. Now you can order only one interface instead. With the help of historical data, the service accumulates valuable information every day about the operation of services, illogical events and problem areas. This provides delicious raw material for the development of snapshot, disruption and planning services,” says Jaakko Rintamäki, Development Manager at Fintraffic.

The aggregation service harmonised these data structures and consolidated traffic data into a coherent whole. It provides a single interface through which access to real-time data, scheduling and stop information on all Finnish public transport operators is available. Thanks to National traffic information database, data utilization is now significantly easier, faster and more consistent than in the past.

For the developer: prepare raw material for better services

The National traffic information database is a modern integration platform that caters specifically to software developers and data analytics experts. The interfaces are already available to order and accessible through Fintraffic’s website. The service will provide data on the traffic situation of buses, trains, ferries and other public transport vehicles, and from 2025 will also include historical data on issues such as disruptions, delays and deviations.

This opens up entirely new possibilities for building, for example, disturbance maps, design tools or predictive customer service solutions — without personal data, but with AI-ready content. Based on the data, it is possible to locate problem points, detect illogics and generate forecasts of traffic flow in different areas. Data from the National traffic information database is a real raw material for future software development!

Towards international transport hubs

Weasel Software has been involved in the design of National traffic information database from the beginning. The cooperation with Fintraffic and Traficom has been based on a common vision, user-orientation and agile development. The user interface of the service has been designed iteratively in conjunction with end users, with particular attention paid to how information is presented and utilized in different contexts.

“The collaboration with Weasel Software has been seamless and solution-oriented. The project began with carefully designed wireframe designs and precise UX design, which made the multi-step process feel clear and manageable. Throughout our cooperation, the team has shown flexibility and quick problem-solving ability — a big thank you for that,” says Development Manager Jaakko Rintamäki.

The IPR rights to National traffic information database are held by Weasel Software, and the solution is also scalable for international use. The company has joined the export cluster led by Fintraffic, and the next step is to commercialize the solution also to foreign transport authorities.

Please also read Fintraffic’s article on the subject: https://www.fintraffic.fi/fi/uutiset/koontipalvelu-mahdollistaa-merkittavan-harppauksen-tulevaisuuden-liikkumispalvelujen