Citation

Simkowitz H. J. Transp. Res. Forum 1989; 30(1): 63-73.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Transportation Research Forum)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computerized data base management system for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial (i.e., locationally defined) data. The purpose of this paper is to explain how GIS technology can be enhanced to provide functionality for transportation research and analysis. The paper examines the usefulness of spatially-integrated data to transportation and clarifies the distinction between GIS and other data base systems that use spatial data. It then goes on to discuss the limitations of current GIS technology for transportation applications. The concepts of network versus Euclidean space, line overlay, and dynamic segmentation are seen as essential components for turning a GIS into a GIST, a GIS capable of performing spatial operations on a transportation network. The concept of a GIST is then further refined by defining a set of functions required to perform transportation analysis. These functions include a flexible data base editor, formula editing, statistics, charting, matrix manipulations, network generation, models and algorithms, and hooks to external procedures. The benefits of GIST are summarized and examples of GIST activities at a number of transportation agencies are described.