A SIMULATION MODEL FOR URBAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT WITH GIS

In traffic and transport planning models are used on several administrative levels, e.g. traffic for calculation of traffic volume and environmental impact analyses for calculating noise and emissions. Modelling of urban freight traffic hardly takes place. The objectives of the research are (1) to develop an instrument which describes urban goods transport to evaluate measures on their problem solving effectiveness in urban areas; (2) to survey and analyse possible solutions; and (3) to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of these solutions. For the evaluation of policy measures on accessibility and environmental amenity a decision support system has been developed with a freight transport model. The model can be characterised as a simulation model, with help of a GIS. The surplus value of this tool is giving a quantitative background for policy measures as regards to freight transport. The GIS application calculates the variables regarding an environmental and accessibility impact analysis. The results are presented in tables, graphs and especially maps. The paper describes the modelling, some results and some conclusions about using GIS as a decision support tool. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 890401.