Annotated Bibliography: GIS and Transportation Planning
A term project by Kindra K. Martinenko Oregon State University GEO 565, GIS and Science, Winter Term 2007, eCampus
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Kindra K. Martinenko |
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How Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhance Transportation Planning: An Introduction
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and GIS technology have many analytical, spatial, and mathematical applications in the field of transportation planning. For example, transportation planners use GIS for the purpose of disseminating information in the form of maps and data analysis within plans, reports, and white papers. GIS also enables transportation planners to develop visual models of elements which affect our transportation infrastructure, thereby helping policy makers make educated decisions with regard to how resources are distributed, and how certain transportation policies may impact the region positively or adversely.
Current GIS applications in Transportation Planning
Traffic Modeling
Environmental Justice
Freight Movement
Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
Pavement Condition Management
Safety Analysis
Travel/Trip Modeling
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
Regional Transportation Issues
Research Methodology:
Here is the methodology behind how I acquired the resources for this Annotated Bibliography on GIS and Transportation Planning:
1. Searched ESRI's Knowledge Base at http://training.esri.com/campus/library/index.cfm. Anyone can sign up for a user account at ESRI. After you have registered, you can gain access to ESRI's extensive knowledge base which includes abstracts on books and articles on subjects related to GIS. I used this primarily to compile "leads", articles and books which may be relevant to my topic of study after reading the abstract. I saved these sources to My Library so I could retrieve them and cross reference with Oregon State University's Library Search Portal (see step 2).
2. Searched Oregon State University's online library catalog for more books and publications, as well as EBSCO Host Journal Database. OSU has a great online search system and it was not hard for me to cross reference my leads with EBSCO and the Library's general catalog.
3. Searched the Web for GIS and transportation planning resources. Google is a great place to start with a key phrase of the topic you are searching for. I simply typed in "GIS and Transportation Planning". The first return ended up returning a lot of good articles for me to read and annotate. Others were incomplete so I tried focusing on only articles that were complete (either reports or journal articles), and discussed in detail how GIS was used in the topic related to transportation planning.
Annotated Bibliography: GIS and Transportation Planning
Note: All annotated bibliographies of publications are formatted using Modern Language Association standards. For more information, visit http://www.mla.org
El-Gafy, Mohamed A. Environmental
Impact Assessment of Transportation Projects: an Analysis Using an
Integrated GIS, Remote Sensing, and Spatial Modeling Approach.
Dissertation. Florida State University, 2005. 19 Jan. 2007
http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available
/etd-03302005-181121/unrestricted/El-Gafy_FSU.pdf
This is a technical dissertation arguing for the integration of geographic information systems, remote sensing, and global positioning systems when spatially analyzing the impact that transportation models have on the environment. El-Gafy contends that because each technology has its unique advantages and disadvantages, these technologies cannot be used interdependently from one another when analyzing environmental impacts. Technological advances in remote sensing technology have made it possible to analyze environmental impacts in a new light. Furthermore, El-Gafy provides evidence in his paper that using GIS, Remote Sensing, and GPS together can "1) improve the quality of the decision making process, 2) be applied both to urban and inter-urban projects, regardless of transport mode, and 3) present the data and make the appropriate analysis to support the decision of the decision-makers and allow them to present these data to the public hearings in a simple manner." (El-Gafy, pg. 11).
Goodchild, Michael F. "GIS and Transportation: Status and Challenges." GeoInformatica vol. 4 issue 2 (2000): 127-139.
Geographic Information Systems and Transportation, also known as GIS-T can be broken down into three fundamental characteristics: 1)Mapping 2) Navigation and 3) Behavior. The fact remains, unfortunately, that each characteristic has its own standards, research methodology, economic models, all which lend themselves fundamentally to different approaches for dealing with each of these characteristics in a separate way. Goodchild's paper analyzes each characteristic in GIS-T, giving historical background as well as providing deeper insight as to how future technological advances in GIS can eliminate some of these challenges by integration and consolidation.
Johnson, Randal S., and Alan R. Kirk. GIS Mapping of Environmental Justice Census Characteristics. Oregon State University. Salem: Oregon Dept. of Transportation, 2004. 1-12. 5 Mar. 2006 http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/docs/Reports/EnvirJustRpt.pdf
Environmental Justice is a required element to be integrated into Oregon Department of Transportation policies and planning projects. This white paper evaluates how geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to map census characteristics for low-income and minority populations across the state. While several Oregon jurisdictions and municipalities already have this information, having spatial data for the entire state has not been collected nor evaluated. This paper discusses the use of GIS in a procedural tone.
Lang, Laura. Transportation GIS. 1st ed. ESRI Press, 1999. 132 pgs.
Transportation GIS by Laura Lang highlights some of the many uses that GIS has in the world of transportation through twelve case studies from twelve different agencies/institutions/municipalities. Relating specifically to GIS and transportation planning, chapter three discusses how the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) uses GIS as a planning, research, and recommendation tool. SCAG has used GIS extensively in analyzing traffic volumes within the So. California region, as well as trip length along corridors. Knowing where transportation congestion and long delays occur help SCAG transportation planners develop future infrastructure improvement plans that can add capacity without building more roads.
Liu, Suxia, and Xuan Zhu. "An Integrated GIS Approach to Accessibility Analysis." Transactions in GIS vol. 8, issue 1 (2004): 45-62.
Accessibility in transportation planning usually pertains to the ease of use from getting from one place to another, as well as the structure and capacity of a transportation network, and is one of the primary goals for transportation planners. In public transportation systems, accessibility in not just an element of user-friendliness but is also a legal mandate. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used extensively by transportation planners and policy makers in accessibility analysis. GIS has the capacity to store data structures, integrate different types of data, and visualize that data. However, current GIS-based applications for modeling accessibility build stand-alone modeling programs. The authors attempt in this paper to develop and defend an integrated approach to GIS-based accessibility, a model called ACCESS that provides for an "interactive, flexible GIS environment, which supports accessibility analysis for a wide range of applications in urban transportation planning" (Liu and Zhu, pg. 46).
Maletzke, Benjamin T., Gary M. Koehler, and William R. Meyer. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. (2005). Identifying I-90 Wildlife Corridors Using GIS & GPS: Spatial-Temporal Model of Landscape Use by GPS Marked Cougars. Washington Dept. of Transportation. Olympia, WA: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2005. 1-42. 17 Feb. 2007 http://wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/622.1.pdf
In Washington State, a June 2005 study was conducted on assessing Interstate 90 (I-90) wildlife corridors using GPS tagged cougars. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), sponsored by the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), identified the necessity for infrastructure that could keep up with traffic volume, but at the same time, WSDOT expressed concern over how these changes in infrastructure would impact wildlife habitats (WDFW, 2005). Collars with GPS receivers were placed on a sample population of cougars inhabiting Kittitas County, Washington. Using ArcGIS 8.3, researchers connected cougar locations within the county with line segments to analyze travel paths. Researchers found that the propensity for cougar crossings of major highways occurred more often in the Winter and Spring months, coinciding with seasonal and mating patterns (WDFW, 2005). They also found that urban development along the highways impeded the movement of cougars within their home range, forcing them to cross highways they would otherwise avoid. A conclusion from researchers’ findings in this study was that when given the option, such as wildlife underpasses, cougars will use this alternative over crossing a highway (WDFW, 2005).
Miller, Harvey J., and Yi-Hwa Wu. "GIS Software for Measuring Space-TIme Accessibility in Transportation Planning and Analysis." GeoInformatica 4 (2000): 141-159.
According to the authors, most GIS-Transportation applications address transportation and intelligent transportation systems according to system flow (the ability handle capacity and congestion), but not accessibility. This seems to contradict some of the major goals and legal mandates that state and local transportation planners must recognize in their project development process. Paired with this problem is the fact that accessibility must be measured and analyzed not only spatially, but also by time as well. For example, the mapping of a bus route's capacity per hour over a span of 7 days of service. This paper evaluates the development, methodology, and future progress in developing a GIS that supplies transportation planners with the necessary analysis needed to develop a transportation GIS capable of displaying space-time accessibility.
Moorhead, Kevin K., Irene M. Rossell, C. Reed Rossell, and James M. Petranka. Ecological Assessment of a Wetlands Mitigation Bank (Phase I: Baseline Ecological Conditions and Initial Restoration Efforts). North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC: The Center for Transportation and the Environment, 2001. 1-117. 26 Feb. 2007 http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/22000/22800/22889/Moorhead_PhI_final.pdf
The Tulula Wetlands Mitigation Bank was completed in 2001 to offset the impact of highway projects in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Province. After the project was complete, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Asheville evaluated the ecological and environmental impact the mitigation bank had on the wetlands and the vegetation, fauna, and water features of the area. Using Geographic Information Systems, paired with GPS data collection methods, researchers were able to spatially map the distribution of animal life along the mitigation bank as well as other information such as soil and water quality.
Musselman, Jenna. "SAFETEA-LU's Environmental Streamlining: Missing Opportunities for Meaningful Reform." Ecology Law Quarterly 33 (2006): 825-869. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Oregon State University, Corvallis. 28 Feb. 2007. Keyword: GIS and Transportation Planning.
"SAFETEA-LU's Environmental Streamlining: Missing Opportunities for Meaningful Reform " is a critical review of the United States Congress' bill titled the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Specifically, this article highlights several shortcomings resulting from this bill as it is applied to environmental justice issues as a result of transportation policies outlined within the bill. With regard to Geographic Information Systems, Musselman argues in her paper that more technology should have been integrated into SAFETEA-LU's policies in order to "streamline reviews without steamrolling the environment" (Musselman, pg. 868). While the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency already collaborate in mapping and using GIS technology, Musselman contends that "too often the information collected for the preparation of one environmental document is not made accessible to future project teams working in the same locale or on a similar project" (Musselman, pg. 868). If Congress would have integrated more collaborative partnerships in data collection and sharing among agencies, these agencies could avoid neglected environmental impacts and speed up the planning process in the future.
Ralston, Bruce A. "GIS and ITS Traffic Assignment: Issues in Dynamic User-Optimal Assignments." GeoInformatica vol. 4 issue 2 (2000): 231-243.
Traditional vector GIS topological data models may be appropriate when mapping 2-dimensional information such as street centerline data. However, in his paper, Bruce Ralston outlines the problems with using vector data models exclusively for storing link-node (to-from networks) data. Ralston argues that in order to achieve faster than real-time performance in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) models, modelers must store link-node data in different data structures (such as vector, star network, and real-time route guidance, etc.) and then link these data structures together in a GIS as to not compromise accuracy for real-time analysis.
Transportation Research Board (TRB), ed. Using Geographic Information Systems for Welfare to Work Transportation Planning and Service Delivery: a Handbook. Transportation Research Board. Washington, D.C.: National Academy, 2000. 1-83. 5 Mar. 2007 http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_60-a.pdf
This is a handbook designed for transportation planners and engineers, as well as human service agencies, who are interested in developing a GIS for Welfare to Work transportation networks so that these individuals can use GIS to make context sensitive solutions (CSS). The handbook first discusses the transportation problems associated with Welfare to Work services. The handbook then details step by step the process of developing a GIS, starting with project planning, data collection, building a geodatabase, assigning attributes to specific welfare to work transportation data, and then using this information to develop an interactive GIS application for display and analysis.
Transportation Research Committee, comp. Spatial Data and Information Science Committee. Ed. Elizabeth Harper. Environmental Geospatial Information for Transportation, 3 May 2006, Transportation Research Board. 3 Mar. 2007 http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec106.pdf
This publication is a summary of the proceedings held between May 3-4, 2006 in Washington D.C. The main theme of this conference was using geospatial data and information to enhance transportation analysis. Being that the conference was a peer exchange, the paper highlights several different real-world applications conducted by participating agencies.
United States Dept. Of Transportation, comp. Implementation of GIS-Based Highway Safety Analyses: Bridging the Gap. US Department of Transportation. McLean, VA: Federal Highway Administration, 2001. 1-104. 11 Mar. 2007 http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/pubs/1039.pdf
This is a "white paper" designed for transportation planners in city, county, state, and other public transportation agencies who must address the myriad of safety issues associated with highway systems. While geographic information systems have been used extensively in many different aspects of transportation planning for the past 30 years, one element that has been largely neglected is safety analysis. This white paper discusses the Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) developed by the Federal Highway Administration and how transportation planners and engineers can use HSIS in a GIS to enhance future analysis.
Woodruff, Dana, Amy Borde, Greg Williams, John Southard, Ron Thom, Charles Simenstad, Ralph Garono, Rob Robinson, and Jim Norris. Mapping of Subtidal and Intertidal Habitat Resources: Hood Canal Floating Bridge. Washington State Dept. of Transportation. Seattle: Battelle Memorial Institute, 2002. 11 Mar. 2007 http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/523.1.pdf
This is a technical report on the Hood Canal Bridge project in Seattle, Washington. The Washington Department of Transportation contracted the Battelle Memorial Institute to conduct an extensive study using geographic information systems to spatially map the habitats of several species of fish, benthic invertebrates, and vegetation that call the Hood Canal Floating Bridge their home. Of several conclusions provided by the contractors, it was found through GIS mapping of species' habitats around the project area that dense groves of eelgrass are prominent. Also found was that the majority of shellfish and other invertebrates lived on the Southwestern Terminus of the project area. These conclusions are assumed to have provided insight into how Transportation planners for WSDOT could mitigate the impact of the bridge project as to not affect the species who inhabit the underwater portion of the bridge.
You, Jinsoo, and John Tschangho. "An Integrated Urban Systems Model with GIS." Journal of Geographic Systems 1 (1999): 305-321.
Modeling transportation networks is almost always a difficult and complicated task. Most of the time, transportation planners must use a variety of modeling approaches (transportation, land use, environmental, etc.) to get the information they require to make decisions with regard to trip generation, signaling coordination, traffic monitoring, transportation costs, and multi-modal usage. The aim of this study is to develop an integrated model in a framework that adopts GIS technologies "so that transportation planners can simulate the interaction between land use and transportation activities in urban areas." (You & Tschangho, pg.306)
News and Updates
3-16-07: Annotated Bibliography goes "Live"
2-26-07: Assessing articles and publications, beginning to write annotations.
1.13.07: Start Annotated Bibliography