TransCAD

Geographic Analysis Tools

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To Measure the Distance Between
Points, the Size of an Area

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 To Calculate the Distance
Between Map Features

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 Using Overlays
 Overlay is a procedure that estimates the attributes of one or more f
eatures by superimposing them over other features, and figuring ou
t the extent to which they overlap. You use overlays to estimate the
attributes of features in a layer based on data in another map layer.
For example, you can use overlays to:
 Compute the total length of all streats inside one or more ZIP C

odes
 Overlay bands around a hazardous waste site on a block group l

ayer joined to medical information, to compute the number of c

ancer patients within certain distance of the site
 Overlay trade areas around potential retail store sites on census

tracts, to estimate the population and average income in each m

arket area
 Count the number of hospital beds, trauma centers, and other m

edical resources around an earthquake fault

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To Create an Overlay

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To Build Areas of Influence

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 Creating Districts
 A district is an area that is made up of several smaller
areas, all joined together. For example, a sales territory
might be made up of a group of ZIP Code areas.
TransCAD can build districts for you and compute the
attributes of each one.
 There are three key steps in creating districts:
 Choose an area layer to use as the basis for your

districts. You can choose whether to use all the features

from the layer of just those in a selection set.
 Assign a district number or name to each area.

 Use the Merge by Value command to create a new

geographic file containing the districts.

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To Create Districts

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To Create Bands

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 To Create Area Layers from Line
Features

Then make a selection

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To Create Line Layers from Area
Features

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