Download or read book Building a Statewide Traffic Count Database written by Nicholas Joseph Linesch and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The State of California is anticipating considerable growth in the coming years and is demanding advanced quantitative modeling tools to assist in making informed decisions about how to accommodate the growth. Policy makers and the general public are demanding quantitative analysis which results in high tech modeling and data analysis. The tools result in models and simulation of urban systems which depict the impact on the environment, both natural and built and involve developing an understanding of historical trends in order to project future demand for transportation links and building development (transportation and land use modeling). Specifically in this report I will focus on the data preparation required to understand historical trends of traffic volumes in California for validation of the California Statewide Travel Demand Model (CSTDM), detail the procedure of using the counts for validation, and suggest future uses of the count database including describing trends in interregional travel behavior and estimating of corridor level vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Three independently maintained count databases are consolidated in a single interface and utilized for this effort. This analysis provides insight into monitoring effectiveness which is a key component to good modeling; in addition suggestions are made for improvements to the monitoring system. With better data and modeling the policy makers and planners have more information available when making decisions. The tools and data are useful in moving the State towards its goals set in the Climate Action Plan (AB-32) and in implementation of the Sustainable Communities Strategies (SB-375).