Intermodal transportation network analysis -: A GIS application

A framework is presented which may be used to analyze and evaluate intermodal networks. An intermodal network may be defined as an integrated transportation system consisting of two or more modes. Modes on intermodal networks are connected through facilities which allow travelers and/or freight to transfer from one mode to another during a trip from an origin to a destination. Network equilibrium models may be used in the transportation planning field to make predictions regarding future network activity in terms of traffic volumes and travel costs, to evaluate alternative policies and to aid the decision making process in terms of future transportation plans. To expedite and facilitate the effort of detailed intermodal network representation and analysis, a network equilibrium model is interfaced with a Geographic Information System (GIS). This interface takes advantage of new technologies and sources of information on the physical components of the network It allows the user to store the results of the proposed models in a GIS environment and display them in a spatial data format.