Course Details

Network and Transport Analysis in GIS Training Course

Introduction

In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding movement, accessibility, and optimal flow is paramount for urban planning, logistics, emergency services, and business operations. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the essential framework, but to truly analyze connectivity and movement, specialized Network and Transport Analysis tools are required. These advanced techniques enable us to model real-world networks—such as roads, railways, utility lines, or even pedestrian paths—and then perform sophisticated analyses like finding the shortest routes, determining service areas, identifying optimal facility locations, or simulating traffic flow. This goes far beyond simply displaying a map; it's about understanding the relationships and interactions within a connected system and optimizing performance. Without dedicated expertise in network and transport analysis, organizations risk inefficient resource allocation, suboptimal service delivery, increased operational costs, and an inability to make data-driven decisions regarding transportation infrastructure and logistics. Many professionals struggle with the complexities of building accurate network datasets, understanding the nuances of network attributes (like speed limits, turn restrictions), and applying the right analytical solvers to their specific spatial problems.

Conversely, mastering network and transport analysis in GIS empowers professionals to streamline operations, reduce travel times, improve accessibility, enhance emergency response, and make strategic planning decisions that optimize efficiency and reduce costs. This specialized skill set is invaluable for anyone involved in logistics, urban development, public safety, or infrastructure management, transforming raw network data into critical operational intelligence. Ignoring these powerful analytical capabilities means missing significant opportunities to improve efficiency and responsiveness in any system involving movement. Our intensive 5-day "Network and Transport Analysis in GIS" training course is meticulously designed to equip GIS professionals, urban planners, logistics managers, transportation engineers, emergency responders, data analysts, and consultants with the essential knowledge and practical skills required to confidently design, build, and analyze network datasets to solve complex real-world transportation and connectivity problems.

Duration

5 Days

Target Audience

The "Network and Transport Analysis in GIS" training course is ideal for professionals who have a foundational understanding of GIS concepts and basic proficiency in GIS software, and wish to specialize in analyzing linear networks. This includes:

• Urban Planners and City Planners: For optimizing transportation networks, public transit planning, and accessibility studies.
• Transportation Engineers: Designing efficient road networks, traffic flow analysis, and infrastructure planning.
• Logistics and Supply Chain Managers: For optimizing delivery routes, warehouse location, and fleet management.
• Emergency Services (Police, Fire, EMS): For optimizing dispatch routes, response times, and service area coverage.
• GIS Analysts and Specialists: Looking to add advanced network analysis to their skillset.
• Public Utilities Professionals: For managing and analyzing linear networks like water pipes, electricity grids, or communication lines.
• Retail and Business Analysts: For site selection, market area analysis, and customer accessibility.
• Environmental Scientists: Analyzing connectivity of ecological corridors or pollution dispersion.
• Consultants: Providing specialized network analysis services to clients.
• Anyone involved in optimizing movement, accessibility, or flow within a defined network.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Network and Transport Analysis in GIS" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental concepts of network modeling and graph theory in GIS.
• Design and build robust network datasets from various types of linear geographic data.
• Apply a range of network analysis solvers, including route, service area, and closest facility.
• Perform advanced analyses such as vehicle routing problems and location-allocation.
• Incorporate real-world constraints and attributes (e.g., speed limits, one-way streets, turn restrictions) into network analysis.
• Interpret and effectively communicate the results of network and transport analyses.
• Identify and troubleshoot common issues in network dataset creation and analysis.
• Utilize GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Network Analyst, QGIS with plugins) to execute complex network problems.

 Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Network Analysis Concepts

• What is Network Analysis? Definition and its importance in GIS.
• Graph Theory fundamentals: Nodes (junctions), Edges (lines), Connectivity.
• Applications of Network Analysis across various industries (logistics, urban planning, emergency services).
• Overview of GIS software capabilities for network analysis (e.g., ArcGIS Network Analyst extension, QGIS plugins).
• Key terms: Impedance, hierarchy, restrictions, turn features.

Module 2: Building and Configuring Network Datasets

• Understanding the components of a Network Dataset: Sources (lines, points), connectivity, turns.
• Preparing source data for network dataset creation: Topology, connectivity rules.
• Creating a new Network Dataset from scratch in GIS software.
• Defining network attributes: Length, time, speed, one-way streets.
• Building and evaluating the network dataset.

Module 3: Route Analysis and Optimization

• Finding the optimal path between two or more stops.
• Adding stops, barriers, and time windows to a route.
• Understanding impedance and accumulating attributes along a route.
• Generating turn-by-turn directions.
• Solving for the shortest path vs. fastest path.

Module 4: Service Area Analysis

• Defining service areas (isochrones/isodistances) around facilities.
• Understanding cut-off values (time, distance).
• Creating polygons representing reachable areas.
• Applications: Emergency response coverage, market analysis, public service accessibility.
• Analyzing multiple facilities and different impedance values.

Module 5: Closest Facility and Origin-Destination Cost Matrix

• Closest Facility: Finding the nearest facility (e.g., fire station, hospital) to an incident.
• Setting up incidents and facilities, and defining number of facilities to find.
• Origin-Destination (OD) Cost Matrix: Calculating travel costs between multiple origins and destinations.
• Generating a table of all possible connections and their associated costs.
• Applications: Emergency dispatch, logistics planning, accessibility analysis.

Module 6: Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP)

• Introduction to the Vehicle Routing Problem: Optimizing routes for a fleet of vehicles.
• Considering vehicle capacity, time windows, and breaks.
• Solving for multiple routes, multiple vehicles, and depot locations.
• Understanding the constraints and objectives in VRP.
• Applications: Delivery services, waste collection, mobile maintenance crews.

Module 7: Location-Allocation Analysis

• Understanding Location-Allocation problems: Where to locate facilities to best serve demand.
• Types of location-allocation problems: Maximize coverage, minimize impedance, maximize demand.
• Identifying optimal locations for new facilities (e.g., schools, hospitals, retail stores).
• Analyzing the effectiveness of existing facility locations.
• Interpreting and visualizing location-allocation results.

Module 8: Advanced Concepts and Network Design Considerations

• Hierarchical networks: Optimizing analysis on large networks by prioritizing major roads.
• Traffic data integration: Using historical or real-time traffic for more accurate travel times.
• Public transit network analysis (conceptual overview).
• Automation of network analysis workflows using scripting (e.g., Python).
• Best practices for network dataset maintenance, performance, and data quality.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com