GIS-based innovations for modelling public transport accessibility

摘要

Transport policy is increasingly focused on promoting sustainable transport schemes and, in particular, shifting dependence from the private car towards the increased use of public transport. The effective implementation of this process is facilitated by information about the transport networks that are managed and the effects of changes to those networks. Increasingly the measurement of public transport accessibility is viewed as a useful tool in this planning process. This provides information on the ease, or otherwise, of travel between two points — and may take into consideration factors such as walking to a network access point, travel through the network, interchanges and access to the intended destinations. GIS provides an excellent environment for the modelling of accessibility. Transport data are inherently spatial in nature and the GIS provides access to additional data such as geodemographic and land-use data-sets. This enables the planner not only to look at the basic travel times between points, but also to assess the utility of specific destinations to specific user groups. This paper examines how a software system called ACCMAP has been implemented to measure accessibility for Local Authorities and Operators. Examples are drawn from a variety of applications including development control and public transport network planning. Data issues in developing and maintaining public transport databases are investigated.