GIS-Tranplan Interface

Sponsored by: Iowa DOT

Project Team Members:

Jerry Shadewald

Richard Storm

Transportation Modeling History• 1950’s

– Traditional Four Step Modeling Process

• 1960’s and 1970’s– Main Frame Computers

• 1980’s– Personal Computers using Tranplan

• 1990’s– Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Tranplan and ArcView

• Tranplan– Familiarity with Program.– State-wide License in Iowa.– Proven Performance.

• ArcView– Selected as Main Focus of Project Team– Premier GIS Package on Market Today– Required of MPO’s by TAZ-UP.

Previous Interfaces

• FORTRAN Based DOS Inputs– Rigid Requirements– No Help Options– Input Errors “Crashed” Program

Current Interface

• Visual Basic Based Windows Inputs– User-Friendly Forms– Tool-Tip Help Screens– Automatic Error Sensing and Reporting

Building a Network

• Create a Tranplan Network– Nodes, Links Coordinates

• Create a New Network– Trace Network over Aerials in ArcView

• Netcard Splitter– Use Tranplan Binary File

• Edit Network

ArcView Operating The Interface

• Pull-Down Menus Added

Creating A Tranplan Network

• Tranplan Network

– Use Formatted Nodes and Links Files to Create an ArcView Network.

Create A New Network

• New Network

– Trace an aerial in ArcView to Create Formatted Nodes and Links Files.

Tranplan Network In ArcView

Tranplan Control Files

• Automated Tranplan Control File Creation.– Standard Network

Builder

– Runs the Build Highway Network Module

Tranplan Control Files• Default Module Builder

– Optional Control File to Complete Modeling Process.

– Instructs Tranplan to Create All Required Files for Analysis Tools.

• User-Created Control File

Adding Tranplan Output

• Tranplan is Executed by the Interface.

• Netcard is Opened.

• Output is Added to the Network.

Tranplan Output in ArcView

• Loaded Link Volumes and Centroid Values

Calibration And Analysis Tools

• Calibration Plot– Ratio between Loaded and Counted Volumes

– Colored According to Ratio

– Sized by Loaded Volume

Calibration And Analysis Tools

• Screen/Cut/Cordon Line

Calibration And Analysis Tools

• Select Link Analysis– Select Link Tree– Select Link Origins– Select Link Destinations– Select Link O/D Ratio

Select Link Tree

Select Link O/D Ratio

Calibration And Analysis Tools

• Shortest Path Finder– User Selects Two Centroids in ArcView

Calibration And Analysis Tools

• Origin to Destination Desire Line– User Selects Two Centroids in ArcView– Loaded Volume Between Points is Displayed.

Calibration And Analysis Tools

• Turning Movement Display– User Selects up to Ten Nodes.

Continuing Research

• Scenario Analysis– Buffer Volume

Difference– Turning Movement

Comparison– STEAM

Continuing Research

• Subarea Analysis using CORSIM

• Statistical Analysis of Tranplan output

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”

Questions And Comments

• Please Feel Free to Ask Questions Concerning the Interface.

• For More Information, See the Web at: http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/Projects/tp_is/ Enhance/web/

• E-mail – Shadew@iastate.edu– Rstorm@iastate.edu