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167509-1 Report Abstract

Development of a GIS Model for Intermodal Freight

Glenn Standifer and C. Michael Walton, University of Texas at Austin, June 2000, 136 pp. (167509-1)

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate usage of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for analyzing intermodal freight networks. A complete GIS network, focused on the state of Texas, is developed and used to examine impacts of price, time, location, and policy on shipper routing.

This process begins with an exploration of existing GIS applications, and state of the practice within the intermodal freight industry. This information provides a framework for building a technically feasible and relevant application. Data acquisition and processing techniques for both geographic and attribute data are considered. Relevant processes for creation of a GIS network and data conflation are identified and demonstrated. These techniques are used to create a network modeling the complex interactions and transfer rules amongst modes. Finally, several case studies are developed using the completed network to exhibit the power of GIS applied to intermodal freight. The report concludes with a summary, and observations to assist others attempting to build upon these results.

Keywords: Intermodal, GIS, Planning, Freight Movement

ENTIRE REPORT (Adobe Acrobat File – 3,824KBytes)