Transport Analyst
| Vendor | Conveyal |
|---|---|
| License | The MIT License |
| Documentation | http://analysis-ui.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ |
| Data Input | GTFS, OpenStreetMap, ACS/Census, LODES, custom shapefiles |
| Data Output | GIS shapefiles, maps, accessibility graphs, GeoTIFF, |
| Website | http://conveyal.com/projects/analyst/ |
Transport Analyst integrates transit and land use data to compare current system performance and accessibility with various scenarios. It is an open source tool developed by Conveyal, and can be hosted and run independently or hosted by Conveyal for a fee along with consulting services.
Accessibility Assessment
Source: http://conveyal.com/projects/analyst/
Analyst offers basic statistics of how far or fast a system can carry people but also, by layering information from OpenStreetMap and census data, it allows planners to view accessibility. For example, Analyst can display job opportunities, businesses, and various amenities that become more accessible to people living near a new planned transit line. Accessibility outcomes allow land use planner and transportation planners to collaborate toward shared goals. The software can intake multiple alternatives and quickly display graphical prototypes that compare accessibility outcomes for the different scenarios.
Scenario Creation
Source: http://conveyal.com/projects/analyst/
Different scenarios can be generated a number of different ways. Future scenarios can be generated by importing foretasted demographic and jobs data as custom shapefiles. These are usually derived from regional or state forecast models. Scenarios can also be generated by importing custom demographic, jobs, or point destination data that would be the predicted result of a land use change or of a new development. Furthermore, scenarios can represent changes or additions to the transit system, generated through edited GTFS files or by using Conveyal's scenario editing tool. multiple scenarios can be generated and run simultaneously to offer accessibility and performance analysis.
Other Features
Public Outreach
Analyst can be run on a web interface that allows for public outreach and consultation. The map allows users to see the impact alternative scenarios would have on them and to make recommendations as a result. It can output maps in GIS format for integration into publications and reports.
Multimodal Analysis
Analyst allows for multimodal analysis, incorporating walking, cycling, transit and driving. Multimodal analysis allows planners to account for park-and-rides, bikes on transit, and bikeshare systems. It also allows planners to consider walking time to and from stops when considering accessibility on the system. As a result, first and last mile questions can be addressed directly in the planning process.
Title VI and Equity
Using demographic data from census inputs, Analyst can preform equity analyses and reveal disparate impacts that a given scenario might create. This analysis aides transit agencies to ensure projects comply with Title VI in the US, and supports agencies in determining how projects align with their own internal equity goals.
Open-source
Conveyal's commitment to open data and open-source has led them to use open data for all of Transport Analyst's inputs, such as publicly available GTFS feeds, map data from OpenStreetMap, and census data. The components for Analyst are themselves open source, licensed under the Apache 2 license.