Traffic Analyst – A Traffic Modeling package based on ArcGIS and the Geoprocessing Framework (49)

Traffic models are mathematical models for predicting the effects on transport systems of among other things infrastructure projects, economic development and changes in trans-port policy.
Traffic models are characterized by usually being implemented as a combination of many separate calculations modules tied together with a complex dataflow. In addition users often have a strong need to customize models by adding, changing or removing elements (for instance, extending the model or adding post-calculation analysis).
Traffic Analyst is a new traffic modeling package designed and implemented to work natively within ArcGIS under the Geoprocessing framework. This approach is different from that used by all existing traffic modeling packages, and offers the following advan-tages:

• Users can leverage their ArcGIS knowledge
• Data management is performed completely within ArcGIS
• The Geoprocessing framework offers a powerful means of modifying models exten-sively, as needed, by recombining the provided standard calculation tools or by add-ing new scripts, models and tools.

Traffic Analyst offers an efficient and powerful approach to the practical use of Traffic Models, through complete integration with an enterprise GIS.
This paper will present the individual Geoprocessing tools that make up Traffic Analyst as well as a number of example traffic models created by using these tools, Model Builder and python scripts. Among the Geoprocessing tools are tools for establishing trip patterns, calculating car traffic flows etc.