This section identifies criteria that can be considered in the selection of an appropriate traffic analysis tool type and helps identify under what circumstances a particular type of tool should be used. Decision Support Methodology for Selecting Traffic Analysis Tools (Volume II) provides a detailed assessment of criteria to be considered when selecting a type of traffic analysis tool.
The first step is identification of the analytical context for the task-planning, design, or operations/construction. Seven additional criteria are necessary to help identify the analytical tools that are most appropriate for a particular project. Depending on the analytical context and the project’s goals and objectives, the relevance of each criterion may differ. The criteria include the following:
In Decision Support Methodology for Selecting Traffic Analysis Tools, each analytical tool category is evaluated against each criterion to identify whether or not a category of analytical tool is appropriate for use. Figure 2 summarizes the criteria that may be considered in the selection of a tool category.
The steps for selecting the appropriate type of analysis tool are:
Decision Support Methodology for Selecting Traffic Analysis Tools presents step-by-step guidance for the tool selection process, along with a list of recommended readings. An automated tool that implements the guidance can be found at the FHWA Traffic Analysis Tools Web site at: http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/Travel/Traffic_Analysis_Tools/traffic_analysis_toolbox.htm
The first step in selecting the appropriate type of traffic analysis tool is the identification of the analytical context of the project. Figure 2 illustrates a typical transportation analysis process, which contains several analytical phases, including:
Table 1 presents the general relevance of each tool category for each analytical context, including planning, design, and operations/construction.
Analytical Context |
Analytical Tools/ Methodologies: Sketch Planning |
Analytical Tools/ Methodologies: Travel Demand Models |
Analytical Tools/ Methodologies: Analytical/ Deterministic Tools (HCM-Based) |
Analytical Tools/ Methodologies: Traffic Optimization |
Analytical Tools/ Methodologies: Macroscopic Simulation |
Analytical Tools/ Methodologies: Mesoscopic Simulation |
Analytical Tools/ Methodologies: Microscopic Simulation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planning |
|||||||
Design |
Not Applicable |
||||||
Operations/ Construction |
Notes: Specific context is generally addressed by the corresponding analytical tool/methodology.
Some of the analytical tools/methodologies address the specific context and some do not.
The particular analytical tool/methodology does not generally address the specific context.
Not Applicable: The particular methodology is not appropriate for use in addressing the specific context.
Before selecting a particular tool, users are strongly encouraged to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the specific analytical tools. Appendix A provides a list of available traffic analysis tools by tool category as of August 2004 (Web site links are also provided for more information).
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