Part 1: Guide to routing
Several public sector organisations use network data for optimising refuse collection routes, school transport and reorganisation of the locations of key services. Several case studies have been published demonstrating significant cost savings. As a result, more organisations are seeking to reduce costs by better use of network data. This has raised awareness of the benefits of using route analysis, and this document provides a guide to route analysis aimed at helping users understand what it is and how to get started.
Route analysis can be used to answer questions such as
Where is my nearest library?
What is the most efficient route for my deliveries?
Which is the best location to build a new office?
When considering these questions, a simple radius search using a buffer zone can be used to find objects within a set distance of a feature. For example, a school needs to know how many addresses are within a 1 km catchment area. The image on the left shows all the addresses highlighted within a radius buffer however addresses on the opposite side of the river are included.
To improve this analysis, the road network can be used to give a more accurate picture. Generating a polygon based on 1 km driving distance creates a better representation, returning fewer addresses as shown on the right. This demonstrates that route analysis provides a more effective method for defining catchment areas, managing location-based services and answering the questions listed earlier.
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