Tip 1.

Preventing some errors in TransCAD

When you are working with TransCAD, copy all your data to the C: drive
(for example to C:\Temp). Working from the U: drive can create lagging
in the data flow due to high network traffic which produces errors in
TransCAD. DO NOT forget to copy all your data back to the U: drive after
you have finished your work.
Tip 2. Opening files in TransCAD
From the Edit/Preferences dialog - File Sharing tab, you can select how
to open files in TransCAD (read only and exclusive access). Uncheck the
box for read only and check the box next to Exclusive Access. Repeat
this for both cases (Local and Network Drives).

Lab 3: Building Travel Demand Model Zones and Networks

PART 1: ZONE BUILDING
INTRODUCTION: Traffic Analysis Zones or TAZs are geographic areas that divide
the planning region into similar areas of land use for modeling the origins and
destinations of trips. For example, a residential neighborhood typically has its own TAZ
or set of TAZs, as does a communitys central business district or industrial area. These
zones are then represented in the network by special nodes called centroids.
OBJECTIVES: Using TransCad, learn the process to define and build a Traffic Analysis
Zone layer.

TRANSCAD TOOLS YOU WILL NEED: Last week, you were exposed to some of
the basic functionality of TransCAD. There are a few additional things you will need to
learn how to do in order to complete this weeks lab.

Tools-Map Editing (you use this to create new GIS layers NOT the
drawing tools on the main toolbar. If you draw using the main toolbar, the
items you draw are cosmetic only and are stored on the map not the
individual files e.g., they will not be saved if you dont save the map and
they will always be there even if you turn some layers off) Read the
manual or see the online help. You CAN select elements and delete them
using edit delete selected (not edit delete, that only works for cosmetic
elements.)
Make sure your layers are all editable (file is saved as standard geographic
rather than compact geographic, and make sure when opening a file the
read-only box is not checked. Always open for exclusive access if you
have the option.) If you find that a map layer is not editable, close the
layer (drop it from the map) and re-add it making sure you open it with
proper permissions. TransCAD cannot edit any files except those in
standard geographic format (dbd). If your file is shape or compact data
format (cdf), export it to the dbd format before trying to edit.
Save a collection of files in a MAP, so that your line styles, etc. are the
same the next time you open your files. warning: if you open files that
are read only and save your settings in a map, each time you open the
map, it will reopen your files as read-only and you will not be given the
option to uncheck the read-only box.

TAZ STRUCTURE RULES: Typically a TAZ system should follow Census Geography
(block, block group and tract) when possible. This makes the use of census data easier
and eliminates complex manipulation of the data.
TAZs should contain land uses that are relatively homogenous in character.
Combinations of land use types within a TAZ should be avoided. Physical barriers such
as railroad lines, rivers and major roadways should not cut through your TAZs. In fact, it
is important that no roadways in your model network cross through a TAZ. Remember,
we are trying to replicate the volume on the network that represents vehicles traveling
from one TAZ to another.
It is also a good idea to look forward to your planned network when creating your TAZs
so they can be created such that they will not need to be modified/split when new
roadway links are added for the future year model.
DATA: (make sure you use only the data below for this part check file names)
AmesDOQ.jpg and related file
Story blocks and data.shp and related files
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Story County Streets.dbd and related files

Analysis Boundary.dbd and related files
PROCESS:
Tasks:
1) Create a TAZ layer within the confines of the boundary file (Analysis
Boundary.dbd).
2) Use the aerial photo (AmesDOQ.jpg), Census Geography (story blocks and
data.shp), and Story County Streets.dbd to guide TAZ layer development.
3) Use rules for TAZ boundary definition.
STEPS: (read all steps before beginning some hints are given in later steps)
1) Open AmesDOQ.jpg. Make sure to select .jpg as file type. If it asks you what
coordinate system to use, use these settings:

2) Add the boundary layer named Analysis Boundary.dbd. Use Map>Layers>Add

Layer function or the Map Layers icon on the toolbar.
3) Change color and line weight of the boundary to show up better.
4)
Add the layer (story blocks and data.shp.) Remember to select ESRI
shapefile for file type. When you open it, check the import box that will allow
you to save the file as an editable dbd file (if the import box is grayed out, go ahead
and open the file, then export the .shp file as .dbd). Drop the shp file and then add the
new dbd version.
5)
Add the layer Story County Streets.dbd make sure it is not opened for
read only access but that the box is checked for exclusive access.
6)
Create a TAZ layer:
a) Option 1: you may wish to start a new file
1. FILE-NEW-GEOGRAPHIC FILE-AREA GEOGRAPHIC FILE
2. add an integer field called TAZNUM
3. save the file with name TAZ in your working folder and add the file to
your current map
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4. use the map editing toolbar to add TAZ polygons (see next step).
b) Option 2: make a copy of the Blocks file and call it TAZ.
1. Use tools-export and save the file with the name TAZ.
2. Add TAZ to your map using the Map-Layers command
3. Eliminate boundaries between some blocks to aggregate them to TAZs
using the Map Editing Toolbox (see next step).
7)
With the TAZ file as the active layer (notice that layers can be renamed in
layer control and that the layer name is not necessarily the same name as the
computer file) use the Map Editing Toolbox to start creating (option 1) or aggregating
(option 2) TAZs. How many TAZs do you need? A fair rule of thumb might be
around one TAZ per thousand population. This is not to say that each TAZ needs to
have 1000 persons within it. In fact, some TAZs may have very little population
(e.g., commercial or industrial zones). However, each TAZ should be defined so as to
generate more or less a similar number of trips. This is difficult to ascertain before
you generate the trips, but use your judgment here.
8)
Create only 10 TAZs. Stay within the Analysis Boundary. Create normal
sized zones assume you would use about 75 to fill the entire area, but create only
10 (you will not cover the entire area). Use the Census block layer and street file to
guide you in selecting your TAZ boundaries. Well have a real TAZ layer to use for
future steps and labs. Dont worry if minor streets cross into your TAZs, but do not
let major streets cross through.
9)
If you used option 2, open the TAZ dataview. Go to the Dataview pulldown menu and select modify table. Click Add Field and name the new field
TAZNUM. Also, if you used option 2, plainly tell me which TAZs you created using
aggregation. You will have many more TAZs than you need, as all block not
aggregated will also be given a TAZNUM.
10)
In the dataview, select the column TAZNUM and use edit-fill sequence to
add TAZ numbers. This will allow you to label TAZs on your plots. When you close
the dataview, you do not need to save it (but you do need to save your map once you
are done).
11)
Save as a Map file and be sure to back up all your data. It is good practice
to check the dates on files to make sure you save all the files that may have changed
in each session. Also, file management is critical. Make sure all your files and
folders are appropriately named so that you can find things later AND that you do not
have duplicate folders. Keeping your disk neat and tidy will save you much grief and
make you much more effective.
Deliverables:
1) Create a good looking thematic map showing your TAZs and underlying streets and
census block with appropriate labels for TAZs and selected street names (highlighting the
ones you created if you used option 2). Use a thematic map to display some relevant data
on the block level.

PART 2: NETWORK BUILDING

INTRODUCTION: The development of Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs) and the
transportation network are interdependent. One of the first steps in the data collection
process is the selection of roadways to be analyzed in the model. Typically, roads of
minimum federal functional classification are chosen to make up the network (such as
minor collectors and above). These roadways define many of the boundaries that make
up TAZs.
An important distinction is made between the terms network and line layer. The
entire road system and that seen on the screen is the line layer. Once a line layer has
been developed, it is used to create a network or *.net file.
The network has six basic components. These are the links, nodes, centroids, centroid
connectors, external stations and external station connectors. The link is what
represents the roadway. Links are also where the roadway attribute data are stored, such
as speed, capacity, functional class, travel time, etc. Breaks in the links are represented
by nodes and are often at locations where roadways intersect. The centroid is the
network representation for the Traffic Analysis Zone. The centroid is where all trips are
generated from and attracted to. Placement of the centroid is designed to replicate the
center of activity within a TAZ.
Not all roadways are to be included in the network. Local or neighborhood roads are
typically not included in the model. These roadways are represented in general by links
called centroid connectors. The centroid connectors represent local streets where trips
originating or terminating in the zone access the network. Placement of centroid
connectors is dependent upon the size and shape of the TAZs and how traffic should be
loaded to the network. Centroid connectors should represent realistic connections from
within a TAZ to the arterial street system and not cross physical barriers.
External stations and external station connectors act in much the same way as
centroids and centroid connectors. The difference between them is the external stations
are located at the periphery of the network or study area and handle all the external trips.
These trips could be external-external or external-internal in nature.
Obviously, the network is a critical component in a travel demand model. This part of the
lab addresses the development of a network using a variety of sources.
OBJECTIVES: Using TransCad, define and build a transportation network starting with
different source data types. Learn to use various TransCad network analysis tools.
DATA: (make sure you use only the data below for this part check file names)
Story County Streets.dbd and related files
AmesDOQ.jpg and related file

AmesTPLinks.txt
Ames2000TAZx.dbd and related files
Analysis Boundary.dbd and related files
Data to be downloaded from the Iowa DOT
TASKS:
1) Convert a Tranplan network to a TransCad GIS line layer.
2) Create a network line layer from the Story County Streets file.
3) Use a DOT shapefile to create a line layer.
4) Create centroid connectors.
5) Add turn penalties and prohibitions.
6) Check a line layers connectivity
7) Calculate travel time
8) Create a network from a line layer
9) Use the network to create a shortest path matrix
10) Use the shortest path tool to calculate shortest routes (via distance and travel time)
between two or more selected nodes.
11) Use the Thematic Map feature to create a map that effectively illustrates AADT.
12) Use the TransCad Create Bands tool to develop a set of Isochronal time lines
from a specified node.
13) Use the Traveling Salesman Routine to develop a path with fixed stops.
STEPS:
1) One way to create a base line layer for developing a network is to convert one
from another travel demand modeling software program. In this step, a Tranplan
network will be converted to TransCad. Note: for this example, the imported
network will not overlay on any of the other layers, so do not be concerned about
that for now.
a. From the Planning pull-down menu select the Import Planning
Data>Import Planning Networks. (note: if the Planning menu option is
not available, select Procedures-Planning to make it active)
b. Under the Import File Type select Tranplan and click the highway links
button.
c. Select the AmesTPLinks.txt file and click Open. (This is a file that was
exported from the Tranplan software program). Because the Tranplan
network was provided in a different coordinate system, set the coordinate
options as follows:

d. Click OK and then assign a name for the new Standard Geographic File to
be created (TRANPLAN) save it in your working folder.
e. This process now creates a GIS line layer file.
f. Print a copy of the network to turn in. Label it Tranplan Network.
2) An alternative method to create a base line file for developing a network entails
utilizing street files (such as those provided by Caliper Corporation with the
TransCad software). The following steps utilize such a layer (TransCad streets
file) to provide a base for a network.
a. Close TransCAD and open it again.
b. Open the Standard Geographic Files named Story County Streets.dbd and
Analysis Boundary.dbd
c. Create a selection set from Story County Streets.dbd to establish the links
needed for a model network. Use the polygon selection tool and quickly
select a set of roads that comprise the Ames area or the overlay tools to
clip out the roads within the analysis boundary.
d. Print a copy of the county roads layer as a background and highlight
the selection set. Label it Links to be Considered for Inclusion
3) Iowa DOT data.
a. The Iowa Department of Transportation has a variety of road data and a
complete network available for download on an MPO or county basis.
The web address is:

b. http://www.gis.dot.state.ia.us/. Click on the 2006 Road, Structures

link. Click on 2006. Download the 2006 Story County zip file. Go back
up one level and click on the link called metadata. Metadata means
data about data It tells you the contents and other information about the
data files you downloaded. Save the metadata file for the road files
(ROAD_INFO_SO_V.html) to your working folder for use later. Search
the metadata html file for the text string fedfunc this tells you the
information about that particular attribute.
c. A look at the contents of the Story_2006.zip file reveals eleven shape files
of the road and bridge network (.shp, .dbf, .shx, .prj). Note that each file
has a .dbf data (attribute) file.
d. Extract the contents of the .zip file to your working folder.
e. In the TransCAD File Open dialogue box, select ESRI Shapefile (*.shp)
from the Files of type: dropdown. Select Road_info.shp and left click on
Open. The ESRI Shapefile dialogue box will open. The coordinates for
this file are lat-long, so no conversion should be required. Click on the
IMPORT LAYER check box which will let you create a new dbd file
call it road_info.dbd. Add AmesDOQ.jpg and Ames2000TAZx.dbd to
your map.
f. We would like to join some information about the roads from other
databases to our road_info layer. In this case, we are looking for files with
the following fields:
Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
Federal Functional Class
Speed Limit
Length
The base files, road_info, has Federal Functional Class (FEDFUNC) as an
attribute.
Note: following are the codes for the FFC field (you also found this
information in the metadata)

The other attributes we are looking for exist in the following .dbf files:
Direct_lane_2005.dbf
Traffic_2005.dbf
g. Open these two files. Use File > Open, Files of Type: dBASE file (*.dbf)
and each .dbf will appear in a Dataview. Also open a dataview to the
road_info layer.
h. The file Direct_lane_2005.dbf has attributes for each road link in both
directions for some links, which would complicate the joining of this
database to the others. We just need information in one direction, so in the
Direct_lane_2005 Dataview, use Selection > Select by Condition, and in
the Enter a Condition text box, type DIRECTION <> N and then left
click on OK. Choose EDIT-DELETE SET and say yes to permanently
deleting these 533 records. Now chose All Records in the Records to

Display box
i. Now you will join fields from the two dbase files to the story_roads layer.
Go to Dataview > Join. The Join dialogue box will appear. In the
Joining From Table drop down, select road_info. In the to Table field,
select Traffic_2005. Make sure the linking field for the data is MSLINK
in both the Joining from Field and the to Field drop downs. Left click
OK.
j. Repeat the previous step, adding Direct_lane_2005 to
road_info+Traffic_2005. Each time in the Joining From Field box,
choose roads_info:MSLINK and in the To Field box choose MSLINK.
When complete, you should have a Dataview entitled Road_info
+Traffic_2005+ Direct_lane_2005 and you will be able to use all the
joined data fields in map building and querying (the joined dataview must
be retained and open to do this.) Important: In order to save this joined
dataview, you must export it.
k. After joining, use Dataset/Fields from the main menu, select column(s)
which you do not want to see in the table and click on the Drop button
(Figure 2). This way you will have only a few columns (AADT, Length,
etc) in the dataview instead of many columns. Show these fields:
Road_info: MSLINK, FEDFUNC and NINEONEONE
Direct_lane_2005: MSLINK, LIMITMPH
Traffic_2005: MSLINK and AADT

l. Back to the map we dont want all the lines as links in the model. To
determine which roads to keep, make a thematic map (color theme
method: list of values) using the field Fedfunc (Federal Functional Class).
Notice which roads have which values (create a legend to help you with
this). Create a selection set of roads of functional class that you think are
major enough to be included in the model (using a selection set). You will
want to have the TAZs open as a background (not the editable) layer
(Ames2000TAZx.dbd). As youd like to keep roads from cutting through
TAZs, remove from the selection set roads that go through TAZs. Also
remove from the selection set the links outside the planning area. Save the
selected set (tools-export-make sure you select standard geographic file)
as a new dbd file called mynetworklines.
4) Create Centroids and Connectors.
a. Close all open files and open Ames2000TAZx.dbd. Add
mynetworklines.dbd and AmesDOQ.jpg Use Map-Layers to rename the
links layer from ROAD_INFO_2005 to mynetworklines.
b. Make the Ames2000TAZ layer the active layer.
c. Go to Tools>Export and click the Export as Centroid Points check box
(saves a node at the center of each TAZ into a node file). Make sure you
select Standard Geographic file format (the default is compact) and call
it centroids.
d. Add your Centroid layer, rename the layer Centroids and make it active (if
it is not already).
e. Use the TransCAD tools to automatically create centroid connecters
(Planning>Planning Utilities>Centroid Connectors), setting the
maximum number of centroid connectors to be 4 (default is 1) and
choosing the mynetworklines file as the street file.
f. For zones 1-10 (labels using the TAZ field will help) use the network
editing tool to modify their centroid connectors using rules we discussed
in class and in the reading. Connectors should connect midblock, not at
intersections. It will be helpful to note that the newly created centroid
connector links have no MSLINK. Use that knowledge to recolor centroid
connectors (create a selection set, MSLINK = null). The easiest way to
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5)

6)

7)

8)

change the centroid connectors is to delete them one at a time and add
them back where they are supposed to be. In fact, so many of them need
to be repositioned that you could just delete all of them in zones 1-10 and
redraw them. You will want to look at the aerial photos to see where the
TAZs have access.
g. Print a copy of your centroids, connectors, aerial photo and labeled
TAZs in the area of 1-10. Label it properly.
Check Network Connectivity of mynetworklines: When you are editing a line
layer you may want to check whether it is properly connected. Sometimes two
nodes are on top of one another, the endpoints of lines have not been snapped to
the same node, or a line is missing between two nearby nodes. Potential
connectivity problems can be checked with the Tools-Map Editing-Check Line
Layer Connectivity command, using a threshold of 5 meters. For each node,
TransCAD lists all the nodes within the threshold distance, then ignores the nodes
that are directly connected to this node by a line. If there are other nodes still on
the list, this node is put into one of three selection sets, based on the number of
lines connected to this node:
a. Level 1 contains nodes that have only one connected line
b. Level 2 contains nodes that have two connected lines
c. Level 3 contains nodes that have three or more connected lines
Each selection set has a distinctive style (you may have to pan around a bit to find
one). By examining the selected nodes, you can focus on potential problems, then
use the map editing tools to correct any problems. Using the same network file
you have open, use the Network Connectivity Tool to analyze the connectivity.
Describe (how many, where, what type) the problems you find in your
network (if any) and discuss how you would fix them (even if you dont have
any).
Close all files and open the map with the saved joins to mynetworklines. Use the
Color Theme Map Wizard to illustrate AADT volumes from the DOT. Pick colors
which are intuitive for the viewer. Also increase line thickness for larger AADT
values. Print a copy of the map to turn in.
Calculate travel time.
a. Close all files and open the file you converted from TranPlan.
b. Using the TranPlan network file make a new REAL column and edit-fill it
with an equation that calculates the link travel time using the speed and
length. Speed (MPH) is located in the AB_Field_1 column and Length is
in meters. Convert the units such that your formula results in minutes of
travel time.
Turn penalties and prohibitions can be set for four types of actions: passing
straight through an intersection, turning left, turning right, or making a U-turn
(i.e., backtracking). Turn penalties can be set in three ways, and are applied in the
following order:
a. Global turn penalties for the entire network. Global turn penalties are
entered directly in the Network Settings dialog box.

11

b. Link type turn penalties that apply between links of different types. These
are to be stored in a table (using any of the formats that TransCAD
supports) and can be displayed and edited in a dataview.
c. Specific turn penalties that apply between specific pairs of links. These
are to be stored in a table (using any of the formats that TransCAD
supports) and can be displayed and edited in a dataview.
d. Create global turn penalties to penalize all right turns by 0.2 minutes and
all left turns by 0.4 minutes. You will need to create a network to do this:
i. select Networks/Paths> Create pull-down menu.
ii. Select any fields (especially TIME) you would like to transfer to
your nodes or links in the new network file.
iii. then select Network-Settings, turn radio button, turn penalties tab
and input your penalties
iv. Click OK twice
v. Assign a name to the new network file.
vi. Now notice in the bottom task bar there is a Network name visible.
The name is present whenever a network file is open.
9) Create a shortest path matrix using the TranPlan network file. This tool is located
under the Networks/Paths>Multiple Paths pull-down menu. Minimize on the
travel time column you just created. What modeling functions are dependent
upon the shortest path matrix (at least 4)?
10) Shortest Path Tool. This tool is valuable in checking the shortest travel path (via
time or length) between any two or more nodes. Choose Networks/Paths>
Shortest Path pull-down menu. Use the TransCad Help menu for specific
instructions on how to use the Shortest Path Tool. Print an example of your use
of this tool to be turned in. Compare a shortest time path with a shortest
distance path. Describe three uses for this tool (a validation function, a user
function, and a business or logistic function).
11) Use the Network Bands function to create Isochronal Time Lines based on Travel
Time.
a. Make the nodes/intersections layer visible and hide the aerial photo.
b. Select a node to base the timelines on.
c. Select Networks/Paths> Network Bands pull-down menu.
d. Base on travel time and selection.
e. Print map to turn in (use a meaningful scale with enough detail).
Describe a good use for this tool.
12) Use the Traveling Salesman tool to find a shortest route via various stops along a
network.
a. Make a selection set of various nodes in different parts of the network.
b. Select Networks/Paths> Traveling Salesman Problem.
c. The stops are based on your selection set of nodes.
d. Minimize Travel Time.
e. Print map to turn in (use a meaningful scale with enough detail).
Describe a good use for this tool.
Report Format

12

Submit a report with text answers to the imbedded questions and text descriptions of
required figures. Number your figures and refer to them properly from the text. You may
imbed the figures or attach them to the end of your file. Use good graphical
communications techniques in your figures. Do not handwrite anything.

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