ASSESSING EXISTING DATA BASES USING THE MATRIX VALIDATION SUITE: A USER'S EXPERIENCE

One of the initial problems faced by transport planners when asked to build a model to evaluate a major road scheme, is the formation of a comprehensive data base suitable for building a robust model. Existing data-sets are usually examined subjectively to assess whether it is necessary to carry out additional surveys to provide a suitable data-base. Consequently the Department of Transport have recently developed the matrix validation suite (MVS) which is based upon proven statistical techniques, to critically examine existing sources of data and identify where additional data is required. Where this is the case the MVS can then be used to assist with the design of additional surveys to produce a robust and comprehensive data base. This paper describes how these techniques were used to examine existing data-sets for use in the evaluation of a major inter-urban road scheme. Data were made available from four independent surveys carried out since 1976. These surveys were unconnected with the scheme under consideration. The data-sets were examined to produce fully observed sector movements, so that the accuracy of these movements could be calculated. The survey data were then factored to a common base year and merged to form a best estimate of sector movements. The statistics associated with these movements were examined to establish whether it would be possible to build a model that would be robust enough to be used for both economic and operational scheme evaluation. Finally the paper describes how the results of the analysis may be used to design additional surveys for overcoming deficiencies in an existing data-base. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860501132
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented during the proceedings of Seminar Q held at PTCR's 10th Annual Summer Meeting, Transportation Analysis and Models, Warwick University, England.
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  110 Strand
  London WC2,   England 
• Authors:
  • Parry, P T
  • WEBB, S A
• Conference:
  • Planning & Transport Res & Comp, Sum Ann Mtg, Proc
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 213-228

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Data banks; Databases; Evaluation; Evaluation and assessment; Highways; Information processing; Intercity transportation; Intercity travel; Mathematical models; Matrices (Mathematics); Needs assessment; Planning; Statistics; Traffic flow; Traffic surveys; Transportation; Transportation planning; Travel; Validation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; User needs
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 8655: Data processing; 8614: Database; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 2755: Highway; 388: Inter urban; 698: Journey; 6473: Mathematical model; 143: Planning; 6555: Statistics; 671: Traffic flow; 676: Traffic survey; 1155: Transport
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I71: Traffic Theory;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381634
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-86050-113-2
• Report/Paper Numbers: REPORT
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM