COMPUTERIZED METHOD FOR UPDATING PLANNING DATA BASES USED IN TRAVEL DEMAND FORECASTING

Data bases that have been created for use in urban transportation studies describe the urban environment for only one point in time. With the exception of simple manual techniques, no provision has been made for updating these planning data bases on a continuing basis. The objective of this study was the design and implementation of a computerized information system capable of supporting the continuing socioeconomic data requirements for the travel demand forecasting phase of the urban transportation planning process. Agency operating and administrative records from state and local governments serve as system input. The system performs a geographical analysis that determines the home base locations for these records and, hence, the data that they contain. Subsequent to this geographical analysis, the system aggregates the data on a small area basis required by the travel demand models in the planning process. Requirements for data confidentiality established by law for certain socioeconomic data led to the development of a mathematical model that predicts the income variable. The model is based on harmonic analysis and is specified as a Fourier series. The transportation planning information system developed during the course of this research is capable of synthesizing, on a small area basis, the demographic and employment data used in the transportation planning process for urban study areas that have populations less than 500,000. This conclusion is supported by the findings from system implementation and testing in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 27-35
  • Monograph Title: IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF TRANSPORTATION DATA
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00386405
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309036186
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM