A Spatial Approach to Transportation Modeling

1
A Spatial Approach to Transportation Modeling

• Richard Storm
• April 6, 2001

2
Presentation Overview

• Evolution of Computers in Transportation Modeling
• Project History
• Comparison of Interfaces
• Uses of GIS in Modeling
• Conclusion

3
Evolution of Computers in Transportation Modeling

• 1950s
• Traditional Four Step Modeling Process
• 1960s and 1970s
• Main Frame Computers
• 1980s
• Modeling Done on Personal Computers
• 1990s
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

4
Project History

• Federal Highway Administration
• 1990s
• Created limited interfaces for 4 GIS programs
• Systems Planning Office at the Iowa DOT
• Update existing ArcView-Tranplan interface
• ArcView all MPOs have copy for the TAZ-Up
  program
• TRANPLAN widely used by Iowa DOT and MPOs

5
Comparison of Interfaces

• Old Interface
• Run FORTRAN programs from MS DOS prompt
• Limited Avenue scripts
• User must perform repetitive tasks
• New Interface
• Uses Windows based Visual Basic programs
• Avenue scripts perform repetitive tasks

6
Shortest Path
7
Travel Time Skim Tree
8
Screen/Cut/Cordon Line
9
Origin/Destination Desire Line
10
Select Link O/D Ratio
11
Select Link Tree
12
Display Turning Movements
13
Thematic Map of Link Attributes
14
Buffer of Ground Counts and Model Volumes
15
Buffer of Model Errors
16
External External Trip Table(through trips)
17
External External Trips
18
Scenario Comparison
19
Other GIS Capabilities

• Create and Execute TRANPLAN Control Files
• Edit Model
• Summarize Network Attributes for Functional
  Classifications
• Per lane capacity, Lane miles, route miles, etc.
• Statistical Analysis
• Economic Analysis with BEAM

20
Conclusions

• Advantages
• Visualize Data
• Novice TRANPLAN Users
• Calibration and Analysis Tools Built-in
• Debugging Data in GIS Environment

• Disadvantages
• Requires More Software Packages
• Less Hands-On with Data and Network
• Black Box