Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are useful tools for creating, storing, managing and communicating spatial information. Alta staff regularly use these important analysis and communication tools for mapping, data analysis, modeling and data storage.
Mapping
Maps can provide wayfinding information, illustrate spatial relationships, and indicate opportunity and constraint locations. Alta has extensive experience providing clear and concise maps to support a variety of user needs.
Master Plan Maps
GIS-based master plan maps allow a direct linkage between data on existing or proposed facilities and a spatial database. This facilitates maintaining an up-to-date database, linkages to Capital Improvement Plans (CIP)s and developing cost estimations, while providing a powerful tool for communication with the public.
Transit and school access maps
Alta’s GIS-based transit and school access mapping allows seamless integration of data from land use, demographics, transit and safety into improvement plans. An alternative use of these maps is to the create and depict Safe Route to School walking and biking routes.
Analysis Mapping
Alta uses a number of GIS-based tools to help communities understand and select bicycle and pedestrian facilities and corridors, understand crash locations, visualize cost/benefit analysis and evaluate the quality of existing facilities. Providing analysis maps helps users see and understand large quantities of data to help shape Alta’s recommendations.
GPS
Alta uses GPS to complement our field work on many projects including trail feasibility studies, master plans, park plans and implementation of these projects. Accurately recording site conditions and potential improvements significantly improves the quality of our work.
Demand Forecasting & Benefit Analysis
Alta employs a number of methods that we can use to understand the suitability of existing conditions along a corridor for suggested bicycle or pedestrian facilities. Alta’s demand estimation methodologies have been used in hundreds of bicycle plans prepared over the last ten years. These models use inputs derived in part from GIS data to forecast future bicycle demand to prioritize improvements, satisfy congestion management and air quality benefits and to justify funding project enhancements. Alta’s methods and models, such as the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, as well as the CalTrans Seamless Travel Update, have been accepted by local, State, and Federal officials.
Suitability Models & Prioritization Tools
Alta’s StreetPlan model allows planners, designers and engineers to evaluate the feasibility of roadways given future traffic volumes, parking demand and public right-of-way information. This tool allows staff to quickly and accurately determine the feasibility of various roadway restriping or reconstruction options along corridors with variable conditions. The Cycle Zone Analysis tool, developed for Portland, Oregon’s Platinum Bicycle Master Plan Update, allows planners and decision makers to better understand which parts of a study area are best suited to capturing large numbers of cycling trips, and which areas will benefit from strategic investments. Recent advances in Alta’s methodology include the development of the Bikeway Quality Index, which allows planners and decision-makers to compare the quality of existing bikeways. Other methods Alta uses for bicycle/pedestrian suitability analysis include Bicycle and Pedestrian Level of Service and the Bicycle Compatibility Index.
Trail Planning (TrailMap)
Alta’s TrailMap methodology allows planners, designers and engineers to gather, analyze and assimilate environmental, geologic and cultural data and develop a comprehensive picture of opportunities and constraints along potential trail corridors. Handheld GPS devices allow Alta to augment available data sources and create customizable solutions for each client.