UK bus operator First Bus is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its timetables and prevent bus bunching. Bus bunching occurs when multiple buses arrive at once, causing inconvenience for passengers. With the help of AI-powered software, First Bus can design and update timetables more efficiently. The software can make automatic adjustments based on road congestion, reducing the likelihood of buses bunching up. The use of AI has resulted in a 20% increase in punctuality during peak periods. First Bus plans to roll out the AI technology across all its UK routes.

The AI software used by First Bus is provided by London-based tech firm Prospective. The software uses billions of data points, including GPS location sensors and ticketing records, to train the AI. Prospective’s simulation engine can run thousands of scenarios per minute, allowing for real-time optimization of bus schedules. The software also takes into account the needs of electric buses, which require coordinated charging schedules and precise management of vehicle movements.

The use of AI in public transport planning is not limited to the UK. In Japan, a company called Next Mobility uses AI to optimize routes for its on-demand, shared minibuses. The AI allocates vehicles, processes reservations, provides dispatch instructions, and sends notifications to passengers. The service, called KnowRoute, operates permanently in 30 locations across Japan. The AI software used by KnowRoute is provided by Canadian firm Spare, which uses data about demographics, rider demand, and other factors to predict minibus requirements.

AI has the potential to revolutionize public transport planning by analyzing large amounts of data and optimizing routes and schedules. While local knowledge is still important, AI can help identify patterns and make more efficient decisions. The use of AI in public transport planning is expected to grow in the future, improving the efficiency and reliability of bus services.

Original news source: How AI is helping to prevent three buses turning up at once (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Provide each group with a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and collaboratively write a concise summary of the main points. After a given time limit, have each group share their summary with the rest of the class.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions: Ask the class to form pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a list of statements related to the use of AI in public transport planning. Instruct each group to discuss the statements and indicate whether they agree or disagree, providing reasons for their opinions. After the discussion, have each group present their opinions to the class and facilitate a class-wide discussion.

– Word Association

Instructions: Write the word “AI” on the board. Instruct each student to think of a word or phrase that is associated with AI in the context of public transport planning. Have each student share their word or phrase with the class, explaining their association. Encourage students to build on each other’s associations and create a word association chain.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: Write a selection of vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper and place them in a hat or bowl. Divide the class into two teams. One member from each team takes turns picking a word from the hat and drawing a visual representation of it on the board. The rest of their team must guess the word within a time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– Speed Summarizing

Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Instruct each pair to take turns summarizing the article to their partner within a time limit (e.g., 2 minutes). After the first round, have the pairs switch roles and summarize again. Encourage students to focus on the key points of the article and to speak as fluently and concisely as possible. After both rounds, ask a few pairs to share their summaries with the rest of the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How does AI help First Bus improve its timetables and prevent bus bunching?
2. What data points does the AI software used by First Bus consider to train the AI?
3. How has the use of AI resulted in increased punctuality during peak periods for First Bus?
4. What other factors does the AI software used by KnowRoute consider to predict minibus requirements?
5. How does the AI software provided by Prospective optimize bus schedules in real-time?
6. What is the name of the AI-powered service used by Next Mobility in Japan?
7. Besides optimizing routes and schedules, what other benefits does AI bring to public transport planning?
8. What is the future outlook for the use of AI in public transport planning?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

UK bus (1)______ First Bus is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve its timetables and prevent bus (2)______. Bus bunching occurs when multiple buses arrive at once, causing inconvenience for passengers. With the help of AI-powered software, First Bus can design and update timetables more efficiently. The software can make automatic adjustments based on road congestion, reducing the (3)______ of buses bunching up. The use of AI has resulted in a 20% (4)______ in punctuality during peak periods. First Bus plans to roll out the AI (5)______ across all its UK routes.

The AI software used by First Bus is provided by London-based tech firm Prospective. The software uses billions of data points, including GPS location sensors and (6)______ records, to (7)______ the AI. Prospective’s simulation engine can run thousands of (8)______ per minute, allowing for real-time optimization of bus schedules. The software also takes into account the needs of electric buses, which require coordinated charging (9)______ and precise management of vehicle movements.

The use of AI in (10)______ transport planning is not limited to the UK. In Japan, a company called Next Mobility uses AI to optimize routes for its on-demand, shared minibuses. The AI (11)______ vehicles, processes reservations, provides dispatch instructions, and sends notifications to passengers. The service, called KnowRoute, operates permanently in 30 (12)______ across Japan. The AI software used by KnowRoute is provided by Canadian firm Spare, which uses data about (13)______, rider demand, and other factors to predict (14)______ requirements.

AI has the potential to revolutionize public transport planning by analyzing large amounts of data and optimizing routes and schedules. While local knowledge is still important, AI can help identify patterns and make more (15)______ decisions. The use of AI in public transport planning is (16)______ to grow in the future, improving the efficiency and reliability of bus services.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think about the use of AI in improving bus timetables?
2. How would you feel if you were a passenger on a bus that arrived late due to bus bunching?
3. Do you think AI technology can effectively prevent bus bunching? Why or why not?
4. What is your opinion on the use of AI in public transport planning?
5. Have you ever experienced bus bunching? How did it make you feel?
6. Do you think AI technology can be applied to other aspects of public transportation? Why or why not?
7. How do you think the use of AI in public transport planning can improve the efficiency of bus services?
8. What are some potential challenges or drawbacks of using AI in public transport planning?
9. How do you think the use of AI in public transport planning can benefit passengers?
10. Do you like the idea of AI making automatic adjustments to bus timetables based on road congestion? Why or why not?
11. How would you feel if you were a bus driver relying on AI technology to determine your schedule and routes?
12. What is your opinion on the use of AI in coordinating the charging schedules of electric buses?
13. Have you ever used an on-demand, shared minibus service? What was your experience like?
14. Do you think AI technology can effectively predict minibus requirements? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the use of AI in public transport planning can contribute to a more sustainable transportation system?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. artificial
2. inconvenience
3. punctuality
4. congestion
5. optimization
6. simulation
7. coordinated
8. precise
9. demographics
10. allocate
11. dispatch
12. notifications
13. revolutionize
14. analyzing
15. reliability

Meanings:
(A) The act of imitating the operation of a real-world process or system over time
(B) The quality of being on time; promptness
(C) The process of making something as effective or functional as possible
(D) Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it
(E) Created by human skill and imagination rather than occurring naturally
(F) Arranged in a well-ordered and harmonious way
(G) To bring about a dramatic change in a system or method
(H) A cause of trouble or difficulty that disturbs or annoys
(I) The process of examining and interpreting data or information
(J) To send off to a destination or for a purpose
(K) The state of being crowded and full of traffic
(L) The ability to be depended on for accuracy or performance
(M) To distribute or assign resources or duties for a particular purpose
(N) Alerts or messages that inform or update individuals
(O) Marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the purpose of using AI in bus timetables?
(a) To increase passenger inconvenience
(b) To decrease punctuality during peak periods
(c) To roll out AI technology across all UK routes
(d) To prevent bus bunching

2. How has the use of AI in bus timetables affected punctuality during peak periods?
(a) Decreased punctuality by 20%
(b) No impact on punctuality
(c) Increased punctuality by 20%
(d) Increased punctuality by 10%

3. Which company provides the AI software used by First Bus?
(a) Spare
(b) Prospective
(c) Next Mobility
(d) London-based tech firm

4. What data does the AI software used by First Bus analyze to optimize bus schedules?
(a) GPS location sensors and ticketing records
(b) Demographics and rider demand
(c) Road congestion and vehicle movements
(d) All of the above

5. How does the AI software used by Next Mobility optimize routes for its minibuses?
(a) Analyzes GPS location sensors and ticketing records
(b) Allocates vehicles, processes reservations, provides dispatch instructions, and sends notifications to passengers
(c) Uses data about demographics, rider demand, and other factors to predict minibus requirements
(d) Runs simulations to optimize bus schedules

6. What is one potential benefit of using AI in public transport planning?
(a) Analyzing large amounts of data and optimizing routes and schedules
(b) Decreasing efficiency and reliability of bus services
(c) Eliminating the need for local knowledge
(d) Decreasing passenger inconvenience

7. How is the AI software used by Prospective trained?
(a) Analyzing road congestion and vehicle movements
(b) Predicting minibus requirements based on demographics and rider demand
(c) Using billions of data points, including GPS location sensors and ticketing records
(d) All of the above

8. What is the expected future impact of using AI in public transport planning?
(a) Decreasing the use of AI technology in bus routes
(b) Increasing passenger inconvenience
(c) Eliminating the need for local knowledge
(d) Improving the efficiency and reliability of bus services

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The AI software used by First Bus is provided by London-based tech firm Prospective.
2. The AI software cannot make automatic adjustments based on road congestion to reduce bus bunching.
3. First Bus is using artificial intelligence to improve its timetables and prevent bus bunching.
4. First Bus uses AI-powered software to design and update timetables more efficiently.
5. AI does not have the potential to revolutionize public transport planning by analyzing large amounts of data and optimizing routes and schedules.
6. The use of AI has resulted in a 20% decrease in punctuality during peak periods for First Bus.
7. Bus bunching occurs when multiple buses arrive at once, causing inconvenience for passengers.
8. First Bus plans to roll out the AI technology across some of its UK routes.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. How does the use of AI by First Bus help prevent bus bunching?
2. What data does the AI software used by First Bus analyze to optimize bus schedules?
3. How does the AI software used by Next Mobility in Japan optimize routes for its minibuses?
4. What factors does the AI software used by KnowRoute in Japan consider when predicting minibus requirements?
5. How does the use of AI in public transport planning improve the efficiency and reliability of bus services?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. AI helps First Bus improve its timetables and prevent bus bunching by making automatic adjustments based on road congestion.
2. The AI software used by First Bus considers GPS location sensors and ticketing records to train the AI.
3. The use of AI has resulted in a 20% increase in punctuality during peak periods for First Bus.
4. The AI software used by KnowRoute considers data about demographics, rider demand, and other factors to predict minibus requirements.
5. The AI software provided by Prospective optimizes bus schedules in real-time by running thousands of scenarios per minute using its simulation engine.
6. The AI-powered service used by Next Mobility in Japan is called KnowRoute.
7. Besides optimizing routes and schedules, AI brings the benefit of analyzing large amounts of data and making more efficient decisions in public transport planning.
8. The use of AI in public transport planning is expected to grow in the future, improving the efficiency and reliability of bus services.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) operator
(2) bunching
(3) likelihood
(4) increase
(5) technology
(6) ticketing
(7) train
(8) scenarios
(9) schedules
(10) public
(11) allocates
(12) locations
(13) demographics
(14) minibus
(15) efficient
(16) expected
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. artificial
Answer: (E) Created by human skill and imagination rather than occurring naturally

2. inconvenience
Answer: (H) A cause of trouble or difficulty that disturbs or annoys

3. punctuality
Answer: (B) The quality of being on time; promptness

4. congestion
Answer: (K) The state of being crowded and full of traffic

5. optimization
Answer: (C) The process of making something as effective or functional as possible

6. simulation
Answer: (A) The act of imitating the operation of a real-world process or system over time

7. coordinated
Answer: (F) Arranged in a well-ordered and harmonious way

8. precise
Answer: (O) Marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail

9. demographics
Answer: (D) Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it

10. allocate
Answer: (M) To distribute or assign resources or duties for a particular purpose

11. dispatch
Answer: (J) To send off to a destination or for a purpose

12. notifications
Answer: (N) Alerts or messages that inform or update individuals

13. revolutionize
Answer: (G) To bring about a dramatic change in a system or method

14. analyzing
Answer: (I) The process of examining and interpreting data or information

15. reliability
Answer: (L) The ability to be depended on for accuracy or performance
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the purpose of using AI in bus timetables?
Answer: (d) To prevent bus bunching

2. How has the use of AI in bus timetables affected punctuality during peak periods?
Answer: (c) Increased punctuality by 20%

3. Which company provides the AI software used by First Bus?
Answer: (b) Prospective

4. What data does the AI software used by First Bus analyze to optimize bus schedules?
Answer: (a) GPS location sensors and ticketing records

5. How does the AI software used by Next Mobility optimize routes for its minibuses?
Answer: (b) Allocates vehicles, processes reservations, provides dispatch instructions, and sends notifications to passengers

6. What is one potential benefit of using AI in public transport planning?
Answer: (a) Analyzing large amounts of data and optimizing routes and schedules

7. How is the AI software used by Prospective trained?
Answer: (c) Using billions of data points, including GPS location sensors and ticketing records

8. What is the expected future impact of using AI in public transport planning?
Answer: (d) Improving the efficiency and reliability of bus services
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The AI software used by First Bus is provided by London-based tech firm Prospective. (Answer: True)
2. The AI software cannot make automatic adjustments based on road congestion to reduce bus bunching. (Answer: False)
3. First Bus is using artificial intelligence to improve its timetables and prevent bus bunching. (Answer: True)
4. First Bus uses AI-powered software to design and update timetables more efficiently. (Answer: True)
5. AI does not have the potential to revolutionize public transport planning by analyzing large amounts of data and optimizing routes and schedules. (Answer: False)
6. The use of AI has resulted in a 20% decrease in punctuality during peak periods for First Bus. (Answer: False)
7. Bus bunching occurs when multiple buses arrive at once, causing inconvenience for passengers. (Answer: True)
8. First Bus plans to roll out the AI technology across some of its UK routes. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧