TRACC Training

This session introduces the data required to build a TRACC project and explains how to import, review and validate each dataset before beginning an accessibility calculation.

• Using DataCutter
  • Selecting an area of interest by searching, drawing or uploading a boundary
  • Identifying the appropriate datasets for a TRACC project
  • Downloading data in a TRACC-compatible format
  • Understanding current and historic public transport datasets
• Importing data into TRACC
  • Public transport timetables, routes and stops
  • Road, walking and cycling networks
  • Origin datasets, including population points and centroids
  • Destinations, facilities and points of interest
  • Census and demographic datasets
  • Reviewing coordinate systems, field mappings and common import issues
• Transport Network Statistics Report
  • Checking the size and coverage of the imported network
  • Reviewing routes, services, stops and timetable information
  • Identifying missing or unexpected data before running calculations
• Transport Stops Reachability Search
  • Looking at how far you can get from a transport stop without any interchange
  • Show how reachable a stop is

Duration: 2 hours

This session covers TRACC’s principal accessibility calculations, from creating an origin–destination matrix to measuring local accessibility and public transport provision.

• Preparing a calculation
  • Selecting the relevant transport modes and networks
  • Setting journey times, departure windows and interchange parameters
  • Choosing suitable origins and destinations
  • Saving and reusing calculation settings
• Origin–Destination calculations
  • Calculating journey times between multiple origins and destinations
  • Comparing public transport, walking, cycling and driving accessibility
  • Understanding travel-time matrices and unreachable results
  • Mapping, filtering and exporting outputs for further analysis
• Local Accessibility
  • Measuring access to nearby stops
  • Looking at how frequency impacts access
  • Look at crow flies and road network access
• Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL)
  • Running and interpreting PTAL calculations
  • Mapping PTAL scores and reviewing the underlying service information
• Arrive By/Depart At – optional additional content
  • Understanding the difference between arrival- and departure-based analysis
  • Assessing access to time-sensitive destinations such as employment, education and healthcare
  • Comparing results across different times of day

Duration: 2 hours

This practical session explains how to modify public transport and road networks to test future scenarios, proposed interventions and changes to existing services.

• Editing the public transport network
  • Reviewing the existing timetable, route and stop data
  • Adding or modifying stops and route alignments
  • Changing service frequencies and operating times
  • Suspending or removing stops and services
  • Creating proposed or hypothetical services
  • Validating edited services before running calculations
  • Comparing the existing network with an edited scenario
• Editing the road and pedestrian network
  • Reviewing network links and connectivity
  • Adding new links, access points and pedestrian connections
  • Editing speeds, permitted modes and link properties
  • Representing proposed roads, paths, crossings or severance
  • Resolving gaps and disconnected sections of the network
  • Assessing how network changes affect accessibility results
• Scenario management
  • Retaining an unchanged baseline
  • Organising and documenting alternative scenarios
  • Rerunning calculations and comparing before-and-after outputs

Duration: 2 hours

This session explores more detailed TRACC outputs for understanding individual journeys, service provision and the relative connectivity of different locations.

• Enhanced Output and Service Analysis
  • Producing more detailed calculation outputs
  • Examining the services contributing to accessibility
  • Exporting detailed outputs for GIS, spreadsheets and reporting
• Path Reports
  • Investigating the journeys behind calculated travel times
  • Reviewing walking, waiting, boarding, interchange and in-vehicle time
  • Identifying the stops, services and links used
  • Mapping individual paths and exporting journey details
  • Using path reports to explain unexpected or poor results
• Connectivity Score
  • Measuring the range and quality of opportunities accessible from a location
  • Configuring destination types, journey-time bands and weighting
  • Comparing connectivity between neighbourhoods or development sites
  • Mapping results to identify well-connected and poorly connected areas
• Hansen Report
  • Introducing the Hansen accessibility methodology
  • Combining destination opportunities with the effect of travel impedance
  • Configuring opportunities, journey times and decay assumptions
  • Interpreting and comparing Hansen accessibility scores
  • Applying the results to strategic planning and option appraisal

Duration: 2 hours