Using Geospatial Info and Tools

in Multi-Modal Analysis: The

2007 Commodity Flow Survey

Steve Lewis
USDOT, Research & Innovative Technology
Administration

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Geospatial Concepts for Executives
April 11, 2007

Background: What is the CFS?

Freight survey of U.S. businesses (shippers)
Performed by RITA/BTS in partnership with the
Census Bureau
Previous surveys in 1993, 1997, and 2002 as
part of the U.S. Economic Census
Provides data on actual shipments by mode of
transportation

www.bts.gov

Background: The Need

Part of major performance push to:
Improve overall efficiency of estimating
distances in the RITA/BTS 2007 Commodity
Flow Survey
Improve the methods used in generating the
shipment mileages
Improve the quality of mileage information
reported in the survey
www.bts.gov

Why CFS Mileage Calculation?

Shippers generally do not know distance
shipments travel
Survey asks for origin and destination ZIP
codes
Mileages are calculated for each shipment by
mode (highway, rail, water, air, parcel and
pipeline)
Modal-mileages are critical for ton-miles

www.bts.gov

The Mileage Calculation Problem

Large proportion of shipments are multimodal
Few national level, multi-modal GIS networks
available
Few (if any) commercial routing routines with
mode-change logic
In a multimodal trip, when/where does the
mode change take place

www.bts.gov

The Solution: A Geospatial

Approach

Develop a geospatial-based tool GeoMiler

based on current GIS technology and robust
network data

Develop core multi-modal routing models for

domestic and export shipments for all modes

Integrate map visualization tool to help

Analysts better estimate mileages for
problematic records
www.bts.gov

GeoMiler: Logical System Flow

INPUT DATA
Census
Bureau

Data Processor

Route solver

Mapping
Interface

Pre-Processor
(Geographic
info correction)

OUTPUT
DATA
Census
Bureau

Post-Processor
Modification,
flag, and QA

Mileage Solver
(Multi-modal &
Export)

Map Interface
(Path verification
& presentation)

www.bts.gov

The Mileage Calculation Process

Required Data Input
Valid Origin ZIP Code
Valid Destination ZIP Code; if an export, valid
Country Name (valid City Name for Canada
and Mexico)
Mode or Mode Sequence
Commodity Type, particularly hazmat
Commodity Weight

www.bts.gov

Input from Survey Form

www.bts.gov

Building GeoMiler: GIS Basis

Fully integrated GIS based tool

Seamless functionality with fully mechanized

geographic info correction

Multimodal pathfinder and distance solver

ArcGIS 9.1 and Network Analyst

Route and OD solvers for estimations

ArcMap for visualization of routes
www.bts.gov

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Building GeoMiler: GIS

Networks
Roads TeleAtlas DynaMap Transportation
Rail FRA Rail Network
Water USACE Navigable Waterway
Network
Air Based on BTS Office of Airline
Information and Official Airline Guide
Pipelines Great Circle Distance

www.bts.gov

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Modeling Multimodal Transfer

TRUE
ORIGIN

Highway network
Modal
spatial
joins

Truck-Rail transfer facility

Rail network
Modal
spatial
joins

Truck-Rail transfer facility

TRUE
DESTINATION

Highway network
www.bts.gov

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Spotsylvania, VA - Chicago:
Multimodal Truck->Rail

www.bts.gov

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Shenadoah, WV Wendell, MA:

Multimodal Rail->Water->Rail->Truck

www.bts.gov

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Ashland, MA - Frederick, MD:

Multimodal Truck-> Air (Dulles)>Truck

www.bts.gov

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GeoMiler: Beyond the CFS??

Offers possible solutions for other geospatial

needs

Capability for other uses and applications

beyond CFS distance calculation

BTS interested in partnering with other

federal agencies with comparable geospatial
needs and challenges
www.bts.gov

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Questions or Comments?

Steve Lewis
steve.lewis@dot.gov
(202) 366-9223

www.bts.gov

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