Issues and Approaches to the Utilization of Highly Aggregated Databases in Freight Planning and Modeling

As one of the four original pilot studies into disaggregation of the Freight Analysis Framework Version 2 program funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the research team at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville) has experienced many of the issues and problems associated with the use of such a highly aggregated database.  The UAHuntsville team has also experienced the frustration with attempting to analyze, plan and model freight movement without the actual data necessary for accurate results.  Rather than stopping, or being satisfied with the current state of freight data and analysis, the UAHuntsville team developed approaches, processes and methodologies to utilize available data, and develop additional data sources to provide the freight information needed to model transportation systems at the local Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) level and at the statewide level.  This paper describes the issues encountered throughout this process and the approaches that have proved beneficial and have improved the modeling performed at both levels.

Issues and Approaches to the Utilization of Highly Aggregated Databases in Freight Planning and Modeling – Harris (2).doc