USE OF COMPUTERS IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
G. V. Wickstrom
Consultant
Purpose of the transportation planning process:
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“What if?” testing
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Wide range of alternatives
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Both land-use change &
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Transportation change
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Assess costs, performance & impacts (i.e., air quality) of alternatives
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Current & future
Evolution of the Process
|
Data |
Computer |
Issues |
Involvement/goal |
||
|
60’s ↓ 70’s |
Large-scale Single-focus |
Centralized Expensive Slow |
Large Systems Location Design |
Technical Limited |
Add capacity |
|
↓ 80’s ↓ |
Smaller-scale Broader-focus |
Cheaper Faster Limited-capacity |
Alternative Modes Concern about Impacts |
Political Broader-focus |
Increase efficiency |
|
90’s ↓ 2000 x |
On-line Multi-functional |
Cheap Fast High-capacity |
Managed systems |
Citizens Users Very broad |
Manage demand Performance |
Data → Methodology → information, regions → corridors → areas → sites
Software Selection Agency Requirements
Staff Capacity/Requirements
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Knowledge
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Training
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Experience
Agency Resources
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Time
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Funds
(Build or buy)
Need
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Research
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Other agencies
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Lit review
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Inventory-software
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Vendors
Current and Future Uses?
Inventory Data
Inventory Software
Inventory Hardware
Assess Staff Capabilities
Review Software
Develop criteria
Compare options
Needs met?
User survey
Demo
Select (good luck)
