Posted: 30 September 2005 at 9:08am | IP Logged

What kind of mathematical documentation do the various applications provide to support the modeled results, especially as they relate to the relationship of estimated Vehicle Miles Traveled and travel times to different transportation and land use scenarios? Regulatory agencies such as EPA require such documentation in air analyses, etc.

Patrick Lentlie
Air Quality Section
NYS DOT Environmental Analysis Bureau
plentlie@dot.state.ny.us
(518) 457-0212

Posted: 03 October 2005 at 9:07pm | IP Logged

Hello Patrick,

Transparency is important when dealing with models and scenarios. In the past we have provided as much detail as necessary to help our clients develop the level of understanding they need to feel comfortable with MetroQuest. While, in some cases, this involved documentation on detailed mathematical relationships and data, generally fairly high level detail is sufficient as our clients are typically using MetroQuest as a communication tool to facilitate public consultation and outreach activities. It has been our experience that the kind of mathematical documentation and general rigor you are referring to is required for the more analytical and detailed planning tools that are used internally by technical staff in planning agencies. MetroQuest, on the other hand, is used in workshops with the community and key stakeholder groups, and for those applications our focus is on communicating the primary messages associated with planning alternatives (i.e. the benefits of compact development, transit-oriented land use planning,…). For these applications we focus on getting the messages right and pay attention to the magnitude and direction of change of results and how scenario differ from each other.

I hope this response is helpful. Please don’t hesitate to follow up with me if you would like additional information.

Dave Biggs
604.317.6200
daveb@envisiontools.com
www.QuestForTheFuture.com