Transit networks can also be used for performing transit assignment. You can estimate the number of passengers that utilize links in a transit network as a function of transit level of service. These models produce link level and aggregate ridership statistics. TransCAD includes an array of sophisticated transit network assignment procedures.

TransCAD is the only GIS with specific extensions for public transit. TransCAD can perform data management for complex transit systems and has applications in customer information systems, scheduling, and marketing.

Vehicle Routing/Dispatching
TransCAD provides a rich set of tools that solve various types of pickup and delivery routing problems. These tools are used to prepare input data, solve the routing problem, and provide tabular and graphical output of the resulting routes and vehicle schedules. The TransCAD procedures can solve many variations on the classic vehicle routing problem, including restrictions on the time when stops can be made, the dispatching of vehicles from multiple depots, and the use of non-homogeneous vehicle fleets. The vehicle routing procedure in TransCAD is also capable of solving problems involving mixed pickup and delivery. Once a solution is found and the results displayed graphically, users can edit the routes interactively by adding or removing stops. Once stops have been added or removed, users can perform a re-optimization of the route so as to minimize time window violations.

Arc Routing
Arc routing problems are a class of problems that involve finding efficient ways to travel over a set of links in a transportation network. Arc routing has a large number of public and private sector applications, including street sweeping, solid waste collection, snow plowing, mail delivery, and other door-to-door operations. In a typical arc routing problem, people or vehicles are dispatched from one or more depots to traverse a set of service links. The result of an arc routing problem is a set of one or more routes that cover all the service links with the minimal amount of deadheading.

Network Flow and Distribution Analysis
TransCAD includes a set of procedures for solving network flow problems. These problems involve efficient delivery of goods or services, and arise in transportation and many other contexts.

• The transportation problem involves identifying the most efficient way to service a set of destinations from a set of origins. For example, a company may be interested in finding the least-cost solution for shipping commodities from its warehouses to its vendor locations.
• The minimum cost flow problem is a more general version of the transportation problem that takes link capacities into account. For example, the procedure can be used to find multiple paths when capacity constraints make it impossible to utilize the shortest path for an entire shipment.
• Matching problems try to find the best one-to-one matching between two groups of objects where there is some quantitative measure to be minimized or maximized. For example, you can efficiently assign work to service centers.

Territory Definition
TransCAD provides powerful automated procedures for defining territories:

• Partitioning involves creating groups of features in a layer based on proximity or measures of similarity. The partitioning procedures in TransCAD support applications in service territory alignment, sales and marketing, political redistricting, and many other disciplines. The partitioning model attempts to produce districts that are contiguous, compact, and balanced.
• Clustering is the grouping of features into compact clusters where there may also be limits on the size of each cluster. You can specify a maximum cluster size or capacity, which limits the number of features assigned to each cluster. The clustering procedure in TransCAD is very flexible and can be used to solve problems in many disciplines such as sales force deployment and vehicle fleet management.

You can map ArcView Shapefiles, MapInfo TAB files, and Oracle Spatial tables directly. With the built-in translators, you can also import geographic data from other desktop mapping, GIS, and CAD packages, as well as many common file formats.

Geocoding: You can link your data to map features or locate data on a map using street address or ZIP Code, or by simply pointing to the correct location. In a few easy steps, you can use your own data to color code ZIP Codes by sales or display the locations of customers.

GPS: A built-in interface to Global Positioning System (GPS) devices lets you track and record your location, and build geographic databases as you work. With a GPS and a laptop, users in the field can create accurate geographic files of public utilities, corporate facilities, geographic features, and more.

GISDK contains both a debugger and a compiler.

Add-Ins: Add-ins are macros or dialog boxes that are launched within TransCAD. You can create add-ins to provide end-users with easier access to existing software functions; to add new capabilities to the GIS engine; or to create hooks to your own applications. Add-ins can be freely distributed to any TransCAD user without restriction.

The simplest add-ins are macros that run when they are selected by the user. A sophisticated add-in can display dialog boxes that let the user choose the settings or options to use when the macro is executed. The most flexible and powerful add-ins are custom toolboxes that provide users with push-button access to tools that you have programmed. These toolboxes look like the standard toolboxes used in all Windows applications.

Custom Applications: GISDK lets you create a mapping application program with a custom user interface. You design the menus, toolbars, toolboxes and dialog boxes, and program the application to respond to user actions in any way you want.

You can organize and structure your custom applications to appeal to a particular audience. You can create applications that are dynamic and that adapt to the capabilities and authorization level of the user.

Custom applications are executed like other Windows programs. Add your own program icon to any program group and double click to launch your application.

Embedded Desktop Applications: You can develop desktop applications in Visual Basic, Visual C, C++, or any other language, including another applications macro language (e.g. Excel). When your desktop application requires maps or other services, it can pass requests to TransCAD, called as an Automation Server. TransCAD can transfer maps to your desktop application through the Windows clipboard using metafiles or OLE objects. You can also use GISDK to pass data back to legacy applications using DDE or information stored in files on disk. If, instead, what you need is a web server application, you should use TransCAD for the Web. Contact Caliper or visit our web site for more information.

TransCAD includes an extensive documentation set containing background information, step-by-step instructions, and a series of hands-on tutorials that let you try out what youve learned. On-line help with tooltips and other on-screen visual cues make TransCAD easy to learn and use. Caliper also offers hands-on training for TransCAD in a classroom setting, or on-site at your location. Our training classes can be customized for your specific needs and user group.

Caliper also offers a full range of GIS and transportation software development and implementation services. Our transportation and GIS professionals provide assistance in assessing data requirements, database strategy and design, database development, and transportation modeling. Caliper also provides custom application and turnkey system development services.

TransCAD comes in two versions. Standard TransCAD contains all of the GIS, planning, network analysis, routing and logistics, and location modeling capabilities described in this brochure. Base TransCAD has most of the GIS capabilities but does not include all of the procedures for transportation planning and routing, nor the planning utilities which permit importing CTPP, PUMS, TranPlan, MINUTP, emme/2, TRIPS, and TP+ files.