Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
aggregate analysis, these local approaches have shown potential in explaining
the social and economic behaviour at the individual level. Hence, they can
provide a detailed pattern of urban transport at the most disaggregated level.
Nevertheless, micro-level analyses are not suggested for modelling spatial
variations for a large geographical area. This is because of the considerable
modelling complexity and demands for micro-scale data.
The geography of urban transport in essence consists of the study of
people's location of activities coupled with the route and distance travelled
between those activities. The application of GIS to study the spatial dynamics
of commuting has been applied in a variety of instances. Discussions on how
to properly use GIS-based methods are relatively sparse in transport studies.
This article focuses on the application of GIS techniques in exploring
geographic patterns of major urban transport activities at various scales.
Although not all GIS techniques presented in this article are new, they
demonstrate how those GIS techniques can be tailored for transport studies at
different level of scales to better address scale specific transport questions. The
purpose of doing that is to contribute to the discussion and theory of linking
GIS with a wide range of transport research and applications. The first part in
this article develops GIS methods to analyse geographical pattern of
commuting transport at a regional level. The methodology uses multiple
spatial O-D transport data at regional geographical units and applies
disaggregated spatial techniques to identify spatial patterns of commuting
distance and traffic flow and the changes in these patterns over time. The
second part of the article demonstrates the application of GIS techniques in
exploring tempo-spatial patterns of public bicycle trips in urban areas. A GIS
technique called flow map is developed that explores tempo-spatial patterns of
public bicycle under different calendar event and climatic conditions. The
paper demonstrates how the results from the GIS techniques may form part of
an evidence base for the transport planners with the potential to inform future
development to enhance uptake of this new urban transport mode, and how the
application of GIS techniques will enhance the planner's toolbox whilst
responding the transport planning issues.
2.
GIS
FOR
R
EGIONAL
T
RANSPORT
A
NALYSIS
Investigate transport dynamic for a large region is important giving
increasing challenge for regional transport, some key transport issues are
associated with low access to transport, lengthy travel distance and increased
