Network Analysis

Goals and Objectives: The goal of this assignment is to learn how to perform network analysis. In the first part of this assignment, we had to write a python script to select the mines that would be used for network analysis. We are trying to figure out what the hypothetical cost is on the roads the trucks use to transport sand from the mine to the rail station.

Methods: The beginning of this project was getting a python script ready to use for network modeling. Once that was complete, we used network modeling to do efficient route modeling. The main tool we used was "find nearest facility". We used this is find the nearest rail station to the sand mines. The network dataset that contains the roads came from ESRI streetmap, the mine data came from the Wisconsin DNR, and the rail data came from the Department of Transportation.

Next, was to create a data flow model. By creating the data flow model, I could clearly see what the exact steps were in the modeling process.

Figure 1: The data flow model above shows the step-by-step actions I took to get my results

Figure 2: The map above shows the routes the trucks have to use to get the sand to the rail stations.
Source: ESRI street map USA

The map above shows where the rail stations are as well as where the mines are. The map also shows the truck routes taken from the mine sites to the rail stations and back again. The constant driving with heavy material back and fourth causes stress on the roads. The table below shows how each county in Wisconsin is affected by the trucks driving on public roads. 

Figure 3: The table above is the final product showing the county, cost of road repair, and the distance the truck has to travel.

Conclusion:

After analyzing the results, I can't help but wonder how the counties plan on paying for the roads. It does not make sense for the taxpayers to pay the bill when the trucks from the mining companies are the vehicles doing the most damage on the roads. 

Once the background is set for network analysis, it is a very useful tool to help map out a potential route for something. This project was interesting and important because it is such a large scale local problem. 

Sources:

ESRI street map USA

Wisconsin DNR

Department of Transportation