Proposal
Submitted to : Dr. Bruce Spear, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Submitted by : Dr. Reg Souleyrette and Chris Monsere, Iowa State University
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Introduction
CTRE proposes to use some of the remaining BTS Workbook project funds to demonstrate the use of federal databases in a statewide multimodal, multicommodity freight modeling environment. Two of the original tasks in the scope of work were for CTRE to:
- Identify and obtain suitable case studies demonstrating how state and local transportation planners have used these federal databases
- Develop new materials demonstrating ways state and local transportation planners may use federal transportation databases
This proposal for the use of the remaining funds clearly addresses these two original tasks.
An earlier version of the freight model was previously developed by CTRE for use by the Office of Systems Planning at the Iowa DOT. Building upon this experience, the proposed research will provide significant technical and user interface improvements to the original freight model, specifically concentrating on the applicability of the model.
Scope of Work
The overall objective of the research will be to develop a calibrated, statewide, multimodal, multicommodity freight model. The model will make extensive use of federal databases for development, calibration and validation. A significant preliminary flowchart for the model methodology has been developed and is presented in a layered approach. Click this link to go to the overview page.
The BTS Workbook project will benefit by having a practical demonstration of the use of federal databases and the state level. The proposed research will also provide valuable insight into:
- Relevant, practical techniques for statewide freight modeling;
- Data synthesis techniques for combining federal, state, local and private data sets to provide the required inputs;
- The use of GIS-based analysis tools in freight modeling and data analysis; and
- The system effects of policy or economic changes.
The majority of research will be performed by Chris Monsere, a Ph. D. student in civil engineering. Chris holds an Eisenhower fellowship from the USDOT which will support his salary and benefits. Dr. Reg Souleyrette and Dr. Tom Maze will supervise the research. Two graduate students, Richard Storm and Jerry Shadewald, will assist in the research by developing GIS-based analysis tools.
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