Cited by 0Traffic Prediction and Management TechniquesTransportation Planning and OptimizationUrban Transport Systems Analysis

Bus Arrival Time Prediction Using Machine Learning Approaches

Open access
Pov, Phannet·2025·Techno-Science Research Journal

Abstract

Efficient public transportation systems are critical for urban mobility, requiring precise bus arrival time predictions to enhance service quality and passenger satisfaction. This study thoroughly investigates predictive modeling utilizing machine learning methodologies to forecast bus arrival times along a specific route in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The dataset contains historical bus arrival data from a specific route, including journey duration, hour of day, day of the week, distance, speed, current bus stop, next bus stop, and weather conditions. The predictive models of this research are built using machine learning methods such as linear regression, XGBoost, support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and artificial neural network (ANN). These algorithms are used to create prediction models, which are fine-tuned to yield the most accurate estimates of bus arrival times. The usefulness of these models is systematically tested using common performance metrics such as the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), offering a full assessment of predicting. Extensive experimentation data shows the best performance of XGBoost model, which consistently outperforms other machine learning methods in accurately estimating bus arrival times, with an MAE of 16 seconds, an RMSE of 28.03 seconds, and a MAPE of 2.61%. Our findings contribute to the development of predictive modeling tools in urban transportation planning and management. This study provides a vital tool for improving the performance and sustainability of Phnom Penh’s public transit systems by using the power of machine learning and considering a wide range of parameters, including those not covered by traditional datasets.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This study compares machine learning models for predicting bus arrival times on Phnom Penh route 11A using historical GPS and weather data. XGBoost achieved the best accuracy, with an MAE of 16 seconds, RMSE of 28.03 seconds, and MAPE of 2.61%.

Key findings

  • XGBoost outperformed linear regression, SVM, KNN, and ANN, achieving an MAE of 16 seconds, RMSE of 28.03 seconds, and MAPE of 2.61%.
  • ANN with one hidden layer was the best ANN configuration, with MAE 55.12 seconds and RMSE 111.01 seconds; two and three hidden layers had higher errors (MAE 81.31 and 112.42 seconds; RMSE 154.97 and 194.28 seconds, respectively).
  • Other tuned models had higher errors: LR (MAE 144.17, RMSE 236.17), SVM (MAE 120.19, RMSE 242.72), and KNN (MAE 109.28, RMSE 166.93). MAPE values were 35.54% for LR, 23.06% for SVM, and 17.85% for KNN.
  • The paper concludes that XGBoost and ANN outperform traditional regression and proximity-based methods for bus arrival time prediction.

Methods

  • Data: historical bus arrival data for route 11A from Sangkat Pong Tuek to Sangkat Tual Svay Prey II, about 16.4 km with 19 bus stations; GPS tracking collected over two months from July to August 2023, combined with weather data.
  • Features included latitude, longitude, date, time, weather, distance, speed, current and next bus stop, hour of day, day of week, and trip duration; the target was arrival time. The dataset was split 80% for training and 20% for testing.
  • Models: linear regression, XGBoost, support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, and artificial neural network; hyperparameters were tuned using GridSearchCV, and performance was evaluated with MAE, RMSE, and MAPE, with k-fold cross-validation also mentioned.

Limitations

  • The paper states potential biases in the dataset, such as disproportionate representation of data from specific hours of the day and weather conditions.
  • The study uses historical data from a single route (11A) over a two-month period, which the text makes evident and may limit generalizability.
  • The paper notes future research will develop IoT sensors for real-time data, indicating the current models are not based on real-time bus data.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.64702/technosrj.2025.v13.i1.06

Cites

21 of 21 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 13 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingreasoning

    ANN achieved optimal performance with a learning rate of 0.001, a batch size of 4, and training over 200 epochs.

    “ANN achieved optimal performance with a learning rate of 0.001, a batch size of 4, and training over 200 epochs, allowing for gradual learning and precise convergence on complex data patterns.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    XGBoost's optimal hyperparameters were a learning rate of 0.05, a maximum depth of 5, 300 estimators, a gamma value of 0.1, and a column sample by tree of 1.0.

    “XGBoost were found the best of parameters such as a learning rate of 0.05, a maximum depth of 5, 300 estimators, a gamma value of 0.1, and a column sample by tree of 1.0.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    SVM performed optimally with a regularization parameter C of 100, a gamma value of 0.1, and an epsilon of 0.5.

    “SVM performed optimally with a regularization parameter 𝐶 of 100, a gamma value of 0.1, and an epsilon of 0.5, enhancing classification accuracy and margin control.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The ANN configuration with one hidden layer achieved the highest predicted accuracy among the ANN configurations tested, with an MAE of 55.12 seconds and an RMSE of 111.01 seconds.

    “The findings show that the ANN configuration with one hidden layer delivers the highest predicted accuracy, with an MAE of 55.12 and RMSE of 111.01.”
    • Also stated in: § 3.3 Result of Predictive Models · boosted
      “Remarkably, Artificial Neural Network exhibits substantial enhancement post-tuning, achieving an impressive MAE of 55 seconds, and an RMSE of 111.01 seconds.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    KNN showed best results with 7 neighbors, uniform weights, 'auto' algorithm, and a power parameter P of 1 for the Minkowski metric.

    “KNN showed best results with 7 neighbors, uniform weights, 'auto' algorithm, and a power parameter 𝑃 of 1 for the Minkowski metric, ensuring effective local pattern recognition.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 11
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 3
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    XGBoost had the lowest MAPE at 2.61%, while LR, SVM, and KNN had higher MAPE values of 35.54%, 23.06%, and 17.85%, respectively.

    “Among the models analyzed, XGBoost demonstrated the lowest MAPE at 2.61%, indicating the highest accuracy in predicting bus arrival times.In contrast, LR, SVM, and KNN models have higher MAPE values of 35.54%, 23.06%, and 17.85%, indicating a poorer predictive precision in this context.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    K-Nearest Neighbors achieved an MAE of 109.28 seconds and an RMSE of 166.93 seconds on the test set.

    “| K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) | 109.28 | 166.93 |”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Linear regression achieved an MAE of 144.17 seconds and an RMSE of 236.17 seconds on the test set.

    “| Linear Regression (LR) | 144.17 | 236.17 |”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    XGBoost achieved an MAE of 16 seconds, an RMSE of 28.03 seconds, and a MAPE of 2.61% on the test set for bus arrival time prediction.

    “Extensive experimentation data shows the best performance of XGBoost model, which consistently outperforms other machine learning methods in accurately estimating bus arrival times, with an MAE of 16 seconds, an RMSE of 28.03 seconds, and a MAPE of 2.61%.”
    • Also stated in: § 3.3 Result of Predictive Models · boosted
      “XGBoost demonstrates significant improvement with an MAE of 16 seconds and an RMSE of 28.03 seconds.”
    • Also stated in: § 4. CONCLUSIONS · boosted
      “Notably, XGBoost emerges as the standout performer, showcasing exceptional predictive capabilities with minimal errors, including an MAE of 16 seconds, an RMSE of 28.03 seconds, and a MAPE of 2.61%.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    ANN models with 2 and 3 hidden layers have higher MAE values (81.31 and 112.42 seconds) and higher RMSE values (154.97 and 194.28 seconds) than the one-hidden-layer ANN.

    “On the other hand, models with 2 and 3 hidden layers have increasing MAE values 81.31 and 112.42, respectively and RMSE values 154.97 and 194.28, respectively, suggesting a diminishing return in accuracy as network complexity increases.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Support Vector Machine achieved an MAE of 120.19 seconds and an RMSE of 242.72 seconds on the test set.

    “| Support Vector Machine (SVM) | 120.19 | 242.72 |”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study employed k-fold cross-validation to ensure the robustness of the models, mitigate overfitting, and provide a more reliable estimate of model performance.

    “Moreover, we employed k-fold cross-validation to ensure the robustness of our models, which allowed us to validate the models across different subsets of the data.This approach assists in mitigating overfitting and provides a more reliable estimate of model performance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The dataset has potential biases, such as disproportionate representation of data from specific hour of the day and weather conditions.

    “While the models demonstrated varying levels of success in predicting bus arrival times, it is important to acknowledge potential biases in our dataset, such as the disproportionate representation of data from specific hour of the day and weather conditions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Real-time transportation information systems enhance travel planning, reduce bus waiting times, and optimize the use of public transport.

    “The increasing effectiveness of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) solutions underscores the necessity for a real-time transportation information system, which, by providing commuters with timely information, enhances travel planning, reduces bus waiting times, and optimizes the use of public transport [1].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The Kalman Filter model has limited ability to handle non-linear relationships and relies on assumptions that may not hold in complex conditions.

    “A study by Yin et al. 2017 considered Kalman Filter model for predicting travel time [8], but we did not consider it in this study due to its limited ability to handle non-linear relationships and its reliance on assumptions that may not hold in complex.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Support Vector Machine performance is profoundly influenced by the parameters governing the training process.

    “The Support Vector Machine method offers clear advantages in addressing challenges such as small sample sizes, nonlinearity, and multivariable classification and regression problems [9], yet its performance is profoundly influenced by the parameters governing the training process [10,11].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [10]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [11]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Enhanced ANNs exhibit accurate performance for predicting both single and multiple stops, with the stop-based ANN preferred for multiple intersections between stops and the link-based ANN better suited for pairs of stops with fewer intersections.

    “The reliability analysis demonstrated that enhanced ANNs exhibit accurate performance for predicting both single and multiple stops, with the stop-based ANN being preferred in scenarios involving multiple intersections between stops, while the linkbased ANN is better suited for pairs of stops with fewer intersections [13].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The regression model assumption of independence among different factors is often unrealistic.

    “The regression model assumption of independence among different factors is often unrealistic [7].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The XGBoost model demonstrates superior performance in terms of both accuracy and efficiency compared to the gradient boosting model.

    “The prediction outcomes are contrasted with those of the gradient boosting model, revealing that the XGBoost model demonstrates superior performance in terms of both accuracy and efficiency [12].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

14 of 14
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The route 11A data is representative of Phnom Penh's public transit system.

    “This study provides a vital tool for improving the performance and sustainability of Phnom Penh's public transit systems by using the power of machine learning and considering a wide range of parameters, including those not covered by traditional datasets.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The two-month data collection period from July to August 2023 is representative of general bus operations on the route.

    “GPS tracking was used on city buses to collect data for two months, from July to August 2023.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The models' performance on the test set generalizes to real-world deployment for optimizing bus schedules and improving commuter satisfaction.

    “As a result, XGBoost presents a robust solution for optimizing bus schedules, minimizing delays, and improving overall commuter satisfaction.”
3 of 3

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

  • Stop 3-4 distance conflicts with the route's cumulative distances

    Minor

    For trip 1, the reported distance from stop 1 to stop 4 minus the distance from stop 1 to stop 3 is 0.8922, not the 11.549 reported for stop 3 to stop 4.

    Reported 11.549 · recomputed 0.8922

  • Stop 1-3 duration does not equal its component durations

    Minor

    For trip 1, stop 1 to stop 2 takes 40 seconds and stop 2 to stop 3 takes 93 seconds. Their sum is 133 seconds, rather than the reported 99 seconds from stop 1 to stop 3.

    Reported 99 · recomputed 133

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. N. R. Chopde and M. Nichat, "Landmark based shortest path detection by using A* and Haversine formula," Int. J. Innov. Res. Comput. Commun. Eng., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 298-302, 2013.
  2. B. Yao, J. Yao, M. Zhang, and L. Yu, "Improved support vector machine regression in multi-step-ahead prediction for rock displacement surrounding a tunnel," Sci. Iran. Trans. Civ. Eng., vol. 21, no. 4, p. 1309, 2014.

Cited by

Still being checked.

Authors
Pov, P.
Affiliations
Institute of Technology of Cambodia (KH)
Corresponding author
Pov, Phannet
Venue
Techno-Science Research Journal
Published
2025-04-30
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
43
ISSN
  • 3006-4988 (ISSN-L)
  • 3006-4996
OpenAlex
W7111135293
Cited by
0
References
11
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Techno-Science Research Journal (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Traffic Prediction and Management Techniques
  • Social Sciences › Transportation › Transportation Planning and Optimization
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Urban Transport Systems Analysis
Keywords
bus arrival time prediction, public transport, XGBoost, urban mobility, Phnom Penh, weather conditions, travel time, passenger satisfaction, urban transportation planning

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