To build an efficient transit system, we need structure. In Moovit, this structure begins with the Agency and comes to life through Lines. If the Editor is your "drawing board," understanding how to navigate these elements is the first step to mapping the world for millions of passengers. 🗺️✨
Getting to Know Your Drawing Board (Interface) 🖥️
When you open the Editor, you’ll see the map at the center and side panels designed to guide your workflow. Familiarizing yourself with these areas makes mapping second nature:
- The Data Panel (Left Side): This is your control center. It’s where you edit the technical details of agencies, lines, community, calendars, holidays and service alerts.
- The search bar and agencies bar: Located at the top, this allows you to search for a stop and filter them by agency.
- Map Layers: In the corner, you can toggle between a standard map and Satellite View. We recommend the OSM layer for almost everything; it’s the best way to ensure your data matches the real world.
🏢 The Agency: Where It All Begins
An Agency is the entity responsible for the transit service (e.g., "MTA," "Transport for London," or a local private bus company). In Moovit’s hierarchy, you cannot create a line without first having an Agency to "host" it.
How to manage Agencies:
- Search First: First, let's make sure the agency isn't already in our system so we can keep our 'global library' tidy. Just go to Project, click Agencies, and run a quick search. If it’s not there, feel free to move on to the next step and add it via the editor.
- Adding/Editing: To create a new agency, select Add.
- A new dialog box will appear. Enter the agency's name and city, and include the website URL if available. Finally, click Save to complete the process.
How to edit Agencies details:
- To update agency details, navigate to Projects > Agencies in the navigation bar. Select the specific transit agency you wish to modify and click the Edit icon on the right.
- From here, you can update the agency’s name, city, or website URL. Finally, click Save to complete the process.
🚌 Creating Your First Line
Once the Agency is set up, you can bring the transit service to life by creating a Line.
- Just like with agencies, please verify that the line doesn't already exist before creating it. To check, click Edit Lines in the navigation bar and enter the line name or number in the search bar.
Click + New Line in the top-right corner to open the configuration page.
Select the operating agency from the drop-down menu; Provide the Short Name (line number) and the Long Name (as displayed on the vehicle headsign). Choose the appropriate Transit Type and, if applicable, select the line's specific color from the palette. If no specific color scheme exists, leave the default selection and click Save to finish.
By organizing agencies and lines with precision, you are creating the solid foundation necessary for passengers to trust their journey. You aren't just inputting data; you are building the digital backbone of your city's transport. 🚀🏗️