Spatial Data Analytics for Transportation

Catalog description

This course explores the spatial data science and technology associated with the transportation industry. This interdisciplinary field is often referred to as GIS-T. There is a natural synergy between GIS and transportation, which has resulted in a number of specialized techniques and a wide variety of GIS-T applications. To appreciate the value GIS brings to the transportation industry, students need to have some understanding of the business of transportation and the challenges and problems those in the industry face. Consequently, they will learn about a number of subdisciplines within transportation and examine how GIS has been applied to each. Students will also explore some of the key organizations in the transportation industry who use GIS and learn firsthand from transportation professionals, representing a variety of specialized fields, about the role GIS plays for them. Throughout the course, students will study GIS concepts and techniques which are fundamental to transportation, such as transportation networks and linear referencing systems. In addition, they will have the opportunity to explore a number of GIS applications and tools related to transportation. Due to the overall breadth of the transportation industry, the course will focus primarily on the largest application areas: highway and mass transit. We will, however, examine other significant modes, including aviation, maritime, pedestrian, and bike transit. Furthermore, while much of the course content is oriented around the U.S. transportation industry, students will also look at GIS-T applications and trends in other parts of the world.