TRUCK TRIP ESTIMATION BY FACILITIES USING ARC-INFO

Knowledge of truck volumes is important for highway authorities and government organizations because of their strong influence on the economy of the states and the nation overall. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a report with truck trip generation data in the form of trip rates. This paper describes a GIS based tool used to compute daily truck trips from/to facilities based on the FHWA truck trip rates. The tool allows for the use of truck trip rates from individual studies, if such studies are available to the user. The tool provides the user with an easy to understand interface for entering the data and executing the Quick Response Freight Manual (QRFM) procedures in an efficient and timely manner, while the GIS environment facilitates data visualization that can help the strategic decision-making. A study where the tool was used is also presented and the benefits of using ArcInfo in such studies are discussed. Golias M, and Boile M. 3