Flow Links OD Study Type
Flow links is similar to Region-based OD tool, providing you with an OD matrix - the number of trips between a selected origin and destination. However, the Region-based OD tool restricts you to selecting a single via region in the results. Flow links, however, offers enhanced flexibility. You can select multiple via regions or even query all possible trips occurring between a specified origin and destination, including routes passing through various combinations of areas. For instance, consider an area divided into three regions. Flow links can help analyze how many trips occurred between these regions and from these regions to external areas (anywhere outside these three regions). This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of travel patterns, enabling you to see connections not only within the defined regions but also with external regions, providing a more complete picture of regional mobility.
What it is
- Reports trip flows between two or more regions.
- Builds a micro-level trip list.
Designed for
Detailed operational or micro studies where you want detailed movements between zones:
- Analyzing trip sequences, including external regions and multiple via points
- Intersection approach-to-approach studies.
Output
- Trip sequence
- Very granular; captures precise directional flows.
Draft a Flow Link OD Study
When creating a flow link origin-destination study in iNode, you’ll first configure the core parameters that define what data is included and how results are generated. This step allows you to write your study name, select a study type, vehicle types, trip condition, and the map framework used to represent the road network. These selections ensure your study is tailored to the specific traffic characteristics, analysis goals, and geographic context you want to evaluate.
To start a new study:
- Click on Create
- Write the name of your study under Study Name
- Select the vehicle type(s) to include in your analysis
- Select the map type to use as the underlying road network. iNode currently supports both Orbis and Genesis map types during TomTom's transition between platforms
Available Regions for Your Study Creation
Before you start adding regions, it's important to understand what area is available to you. Your account access determines which regions you can select, and you can define your flow link study area using one of three methods: drawing, uploading a file, or using the search bar.
The highlighted area(s) on the map represents the available regions to you for your study creation, which is determined and preset by your account access. They can range from a single area/segment, to a city/state or a country (countries).
Three Ways of Creating a Study
- Drawing your study areas
- Uploading shapefiles
- Using the search bar
1. Draw Your Study Areas
There are three tools available to create or add a new region. They are:
1.1 Line tool
1.2 Polygon tool
1.1 Line tool
The Line tool allows the user to select a single road segment from the map. To use this tool:
- Click on Add New on the left side of the map.
- Enter the name of the region.
- Click on the Line Tool in the top-left corner of the map.
- Zoom into the road section you want results for.
- Select a road segment from the available options on the map. When you zoom in on your study area, all available road segments are shown in blue. Simply click and select the road segment(s) from which you’d like to set as your study region. Each segment will be defined as a region. If you are to create multiple segments, each will be defined as a separate study region.
- Accept the region.
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1.2 Polygon Tool
The Polygon tool allows the user to draw a custom polygon on the map. To use this tool:
- Click on Add New on the left side of the map.
- Enter the name of the region.
- Select the Polygon tool in the top-left corner of the map.
- Draw a polygon on the map.
- Accept the region.
2. Upload a File
The user can upload a region of interest in four different file formats:
- Shapefile
- GeoJSON
- KML
- ZIP (Shapefile)
To upload a file:
- Click on the Upload button in the top-right corner of the map.
- Select the file format.
- Locate the file on your device and upload it.
If you have multiple regions to upload, they must be consolidated in one file.
3. Use the Search Bar
The user can use the search bar to look up an address, area name, town, zip code, and so on. The map will zoom in on the selected location. If the searched name is associated with a geometry, the user can also select that geometry as a region.
For example, if the user searches for an FSA (the first part of a postal code) like K1G, the area associated with that FSA will appear on the map and can be used as a region. To do this:
- Add a new region.
- Enter the name of the region.
- Search for the FSA in the search bar.
- Accept the geometry
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