Create a Study

When creating a TMC Analysis study in iNode, you'll start by configuring the core parameters that define your study. This step covers naming your study, selecting the vehicle types you want to include in the count, and choosing the map framework used to display your intersection and results. Getting these parameters right ensures your study captures the correct vehicle classification and is presented within the correct road network context before you move on to selecting your intersection, movements, and date range.

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

The highlighted area(s) on the map represent 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).

Tools to Create Turning Movements

There are two available on the top right corner of the map to create turning movements

1. Manual Tool
2. Automatic Tool

1. Manual Tool

The Manual Tool allows you to create turning movements one by one on the map

To use this tool:

• Click on Add New on the left side of the map.
• Select the Manual Tool in the top-left corner of the map.
• Enter a name for the movement. We recommend using the “Street Name | Turn” format, but there is no required naming convention. This name will appear in the TMC Excel results file.
• Click the start point and end point of the movement, then right-click to create it.
• Accept the Movement. Once accepted, the movement will turn blue.

• After you have created all turning movements for all approaches, you need to click Update Approaches. The system will automatically categorize the manually created movements into approaches and color-code them differently.

As shown below, all movements for the eastbound and northbound approaches have been created and categorized, and the approach names have also been added to the page.

2. Automatic Tool

The Automatic Tool allows you to draw a custom polygon around the intersection on the map, and the tool will automatically create all the possible turning movements based on that polygon.

To use this tool:

• Click on Add New on the left side of the map.
• Select the Automatic Tool in the top-left corner of the map.
• Draw a polygon on the map by clicking your starting point, then continue adding points to create a boundary around the intersection. When finished, double-click or right-click to finalize the polygon.

• Once you have drawn your area, the names of the various directions will show up. You also have the option to change the name of the route, which can be done through the edit button beside the route name.

Important Note on How to Draw Your Polygon

It is very important to know how to draw your polygon, because the tool’s performance depends heavily on which road segments the polygon crosses.

Example:

If an intersection has dedicated right-turn segments, the polygon should cross the street before the right-turn split occurs. If the polygon crosses the street after the split, the tool may not be able to identify all movements for that approach.

In the example above, the polygon was drawn so that it crossed the northbound and westbound approaches after the dedicated right-turn split. As a result, the tool identified six approaches instead of four.

When this happens, the user can either delete all movements and redraw the polygon, or use the Manual Tool to fix the intersection and its movements.

Table of contents

• Create a Study
• Available Regions for Your Study Creation
• Tools to Create Turning Movements
• 1. ‣ Manual Tool
• 2. ‣ Automatic Tool