dvbjs

An unofficial node module giving you a few options to query Dresden's public transport system for current bus- and tramstop data.

In case you're looking for something like this for Python, check out dvbpy.

Install and require the module to get started.

$ npm install dvbjs

var dvb = require('dvbjs');

Monitor a single stop

Monitor a single stop to see every bus or tram leaving this stop after the specified time offset.

var stopName = "Helmholtzstraße";
var timeOffset = 0; // how many minutes in the future, 0 for now
var numResults = 2;

dvb.monitor(stopName, timeOffset, numResults, function(err, data){
    if (!err) {
        console.log(data);
    }
});

[{
    line: '85',
    direction: 'Striesen',
    arrivaltime: 14
}, {
    line: '85',
    direction: 'Löbtau Süd',
    arrivaltime: 20
}]

Find routes

Query the server for possible routes from one stop to another. Returns multiple possible trips, the bus-/tramlines to be taken, the single stops, their arrival and departure times and their GPS coordinates.

var origin = "Helmholtzstraße";
var destination  = "Zellescher Weg";
var time = new Date();
var deparr = 0; // set to 0 for the time to be the departure time, 1 for arrival time

dvb.route(origin, destination, time, deparr, function(err, data){
    if (!err) {
        console.log(data);
    }
});

{
    "origin": "Dresden, Helmholtzstraße",
    "destination": "Dresden, Zellescher Weg",
    "trips": [{
        "departure": "13:34",
        "arrival": "13:56",
        "duration": "00:22",
        "interchange": 2,
        "nodes": [{
            "mode": "Stadtbus",
            "line": "85",
            "direction": "DD Löbtau Süd Mohorner Str.",
            "departure": {
                "stop": "Helmholtzstraße",
                "time": "13:34",
                "coords": [ 51.025549, 13.725457 ]
            },
            "arrival": {
                "stop": "Plauen Nöthnitzer Straße",
                "time": "13:36",
                "coords": [ 51.027625, 13.715769 ]
            },
            "path": [[ 51.02554, 13.725471 ],[ 51.02557, 13.725286 ], ...]
        },
        {...}
        ]
    }, {
        "departure": "14:02",
        "arrival": "14:11",
        "duration": "00:09",
        "interchange": 1,
        "nodes": [...]
    },
    {...}
    ]
}

The path property contains an array consisting of all the coordinates describing the path of this node. Useful for example to draw on a map.

A note: A simple console.log of the returned data will look slightly different as js objects will only be displayed as Object at a certain depth. They're still there though. Use console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 4)); for example to view it in your console.

Find stops

Search for a single stop in the network of the DVB. Returns an array of all possible hits including their GPS coordinates.

dvb.find('zellesch', function(err, data){
    if (!err) {
        console.log(data);
    }
});

[{
    stop: 'Zellescher Weg',
    coords: [51.028366, 13.745847]
}]

Other stuff

By the way, stop names in queries are very forgiving. As long as the server sees it as a unique hit, it'll work. 'Helmholtzstraße' finds the same data as 'helmholtzstrasse', 'Nürnberger Platz' = 'nuernbergerplatz' etc.

One last note, be sure not to run whatever it is you're building from inside the network of the TU Dresden (at least as far as I can tell). Calls to everything but dvb.monitor() will time out. If I could tell you why their site won't give me much info from inside eduroam I would.