Comprehensive regional modeling for long-range planning: linking integrated urban models and geographic information systems

Abstract

This study demonstrates the sequential linking of two types of models to permit the comprehensive evaluation of regional transportation and land use policies. First, we operate an integrated urban model (TRANUS), which represents both land and travel markets with zones and networks. The travel and land use projections from TRANUS are outlined, to demonstrate the general reasonableness of the results, as this is the ®rst application of a market-based urban model in the US. Second, the land use projections for each of the 58 zones in the urban model were fed into a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based land allocation model, which spatially allocates the several land uses within each zone according to simple accessibility rules. While neither model is new, this is one of the ®rst attempts to link these two types of models for regional policy assessments. Other integrated urban models may be linked to other GIS land allocation models in this fashion. Pairing these two types of models allows the user to gain the advantages of the urban models, which represent spatial competition across a region and produce measures of user welfare (traveler and locator surplus), and the advantages of the GIS land allocation models, which produce detailed land use maps that can then be used for environmental impact assessment. #

Land-use forecasting and hydrologic model integration for improved land-use decision support

“…Road infrastructure and taxation parcel layers were used to identify existing right of way zones that were assumed to be un-developable, and to derive a highway proximity data layer. Pijanowski et al (2002a) established a strong positive correlation between road networks and the location of development, and several other studies identify this relationship to be influential in attracting future residential growth (Johnston and de la Barra, 2000;Schotten et al, 2001;Pijanowski et al, 2002b). Based on these studies it was assumed that future growth would generally occur within a 2 km distance of the existing major transportation network.…”

Network Robustness Index: A new method for identifying critical links and evaluating the performance of transportation networks

“…The system is used to model trip generation and is not directly related to identifying capacity improvement needs. Johnston and de la Barra (2000) demonstrate how an urban planning model, which includes land and travel markets with zones and networks, can be sequentially linked to a GIS-based land allocation model, which spatially allocates land uses by zone to provide a comprehensive evaluation of regional transportation and land-use policies. Iida (1999) outlines basic concepts, remaining problems, and future directions of road network reliability analysis.…”

Impact of land use on urban mobility patterns, emissions and air quality in a Portuguese medium-sized city

“…One of the first attempts to link two types of models for regional policy assessments was made by Johnston and de la Barra (2000) through the representation of both land and travel markets with zones and networks. More recently, Lam and Niemeier (2005) have developed an exploratory simulation model to study the effects of land-use policies on transportation activities and vehicle emissions.…”