When making good planning, with which to efficiently carry out action in a transportation system, it is necessary to make a precise evaluation of its situation. To carry out the appropriate assessment of the state of transport, it is essential to compile all the available information, in order to later evaluate this data and obtain a clear conclusion of the aspects in which action must be taken, the necessary tools or methods and the way to put the intended action into practice. Knowing the current situation and understanding it helps to better predict the future or alternative situations.

Data can be collected from multiple sources that vary by project type and project location.

In Spain, one of the largest sources of data is the National Institute of Statistics "Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (Spain)") (INE), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Economy, whose objective is to produce statistics in accordance with the provisions of the National Statistical Plan. These statistics are available to citizens, companies, researchers, public and private organizations, and public administrations. They are generally reliable, consistent and certified statistics that cover all fields of study (physical environment, environment, demography and population, society, economy, agriculture, industry, services, etc.). In addition, the INE is responsible for the population census and the calculation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Information from this organization can be obtained through different means:

The INE has a “tailored requests” service, through which it is possible to make a query on the topic being studied. At the INE, they carry out specific processing according to the user's needs, searching their files through exploitations tailored to the data they have. The INE works at both a national and a local level, a fact that must be taken into account when searching for and requesting information from this body. As can be seen, key data can be obtained to understand the process of generating and attracting trips, since many of these variables (population, employment, motorization, age, etc.) are explanatory of trips.

The different Ministries also usually have databases, studies specific to their activity and various information that is made available to different users. The Ministries that normally have data related to transport-related activities are those of Development, Economy and Environment; and to a lesser extent those of Labor, Science and Technology and Public Administrations.

Likewise, most of the Authorities with powers in this matter usually have transport projects and studies. The autonomous communities collect information about their territories. In general, the most exhaustive data belong to studies carried out by city councils or autonomous communities (through their respective Public Transport Authorities, for example) with large and medium-sized cities, with the resources to carry them out. Precisely these cities are the ones that require actions in the transportation system, either to implement it for the first time, or to improve the existing system.

Other data that is required for the study of the current situation are those related to mobility. Information is used from household field work surveys, which are usually in the possession of organizations specialized in the sector, and these may be on a national, regional or local scale, depending on the scope of the study being carried out. Statistics on operators and traffic sectors are also important sources of information.

Once all the possible information has been collected, it is necessary to do a recapitulation, see what additional data is necessary and, in accordance with the deadlines and budgetary capacities, define the field work or campaigns for specific information collection.

As already indicated, territory and mobility are closely linked. Below are some activities to carry out in the transportation planning process for an area linked to physical space:

Delimitation of the study area.

Although the general delimitation of the area is prior to the collection of information, in order that this process is not done indiscriminately, only when the collection of all available information has been carried out can the area in which the transport activity is studied be precisely delimited. They can be one or several parts of the municipality, the entire municipality or a metropolitan area that encompasses several municipalities or part of them.

The decision to delimit one area or another as appropriate for study depends on multiple factors, but the most influential are the following:

In most cases, the scope does not include the place of residence of transport users, who may be using its infrastructure and services even without residing there, but which are usually incorporated into the analysis. In this sense, it is necessary to highlight the interrelationship between the area of ​​study and those that surround it.

Zoning.

It is common practice to carry out zoning of the delimited study area. The reason that justifies this procedure is, basically, to handle smaller volumes of information and leave the details of the distribution of transportation data for subsequent analysis. As zoning criteria, the following are fundamentally considered:

The zoning that is initially outlined, with the previous conditions, may vary if in the process of carrying out the study it is considered necessary to do so. However, it is generally difficult to subdivide it into advanced phases of the project.

Territorial and urban structure.

Another important information to take into account is the territorial and urban framework in which the area to be analyzed is located, since this determines transportation and its entire socioeconomic environment.

Regarding the physical environment, it must be noted if there is a coastline, if there are significant elevations or depressions in the terrain, if rivers or streams circulate, if there are forest parks or wetlands, parks or gardens and all geographical features that are perceived to be notable; and we must highlight its characteristics and its position within the field. In short, it is essential to detail the morphology and geography of the area and take them into account when carrying out any analysis.

At the same time, it is necessary to take stock of the infrastructure that the region has: airports, ports, railways, highways and roads, urban roads, etc. Of all of them it is worth making a brief description of their characteristics and location.

To complete the information to be obtained in this section, it should be noted that it is also necessary to know the urban composition of the area, whether it is made up of one municipality or several. Describing the urban situation, the types of streets and their layout, accesses, the density of each area, etc., will help to have a complete perspective of the characteristics of transportation, as well as the functional areas (commercial, residential, tertiary, higher, industrial).

Short and medium-term forecasts of urban development produce impacts on demand. That is why it is very convenient to have studied the upcoming actions in urban planning and, above all, how they can affect transport demand both in the short and long term. And any modification in the established urban structure, no matter how slight it may seem, can produce a radical change in the behavior and habits of travel in the region. General urban planning plans (PGOU) or subsidiary regulations are the usual sources, although they may sometimes be obsolete, so contact with municipal or regional authorities is usually essential.

The analysis of the urban-territorial model must address basic issues for the development of a transportation system such as:

Equipment

Considering the services intended to serve the public, those that contain: can be considered as attractive potential travel areas.

Socioeconomic and demographic analysis.

For the socioeconomic analysis, the necessary data comes from household surveys, demographic bulletins and analyzes of the same type, prior to the one being developed. This information tries to form an idea of ​​the characteristics of the population, the distribution and qualities of employment, the particularities of education and the levels of motorization in the studied area and the evolution of all these factors. These data are very basic and necessary for any study that wants to be carried out in the considered area:

The main lines of work of the planner are:

When making good planning, with which to efficiently carry out action in a transportation system, it is necessary to make a precise evaluation of its situation. To carry out the appropriate assessment of the state of transport, it is essential to compile all the available information, in order to later evaluate this data and obtain a clear conclusion of the aspects in which action must be taken, the necessary tools or methods and the way to put the intended action into practice. Knowing the current situation and understanding it helps to better predict the future or alternative situations.

Data can be collected from multiple sources that vary by project type and project location.

In Spain, one of the largest sources of data is the National Institute of Statistics "Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (Spain)") (INE), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Economy, whose objective is to produce statistics in accordance with the provisions of the National Statistical Plan. These statistics are available to citizens, companies, researchers, public and private organizations, and public administrations. They are generally reliable, consistent and certified statistics that cover all fields of study (physical environment, environment, demography and population, society, economy, agriculture, industry, services, etc.). In addition, the INE is responsible for the population census and the calculation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Information from this organization can be obtained through different means:

The INE has a “tailored requests” service, through which it is possible to make a query on the topic being studied. At the INE, they carry out specific processing according to the user's needs, searching their files through exploitations tailored to the data they have. The INE works at both a national and a local level, a fact that must be taken into account when searching for and requesting information from this body. As can be seen, key data can be obtained to understand the process of generating and attracting trips, since many of these variables (population, employment, motorization, age, etc.) are explanatory of trips.

The different Ministries also usually have databases, studies specific to their activity and various information that is made available to different users. The Ministries that normally have data related to transport-related activities are those of Development, Economy and Environment; and to a lesser extent those of Labor, Science and Technology and Public Administrations.

Likewise, most of the Authorities with powers in this matter usually have transport projects and studies. The autonomous communities collect information about their territories. In general, the most exhaustive data belong to studies carried out by city councils or autonomous communities (through their respective Public Transport Authorities, for example) with large and medium-sized cities, with the resources to carry them out. Precisely these cities are the ones that require actions in the transportation system, either to implement it for the first time, or to improve the existing system.

Other data that is required for the study of the current situation are those related to mobility. Information is used from household field work surveys, which are usually in the possession of organizations specialized in the sector, and these may be on a national, regional or local scale, depending on the scope of the study being carried out. Statistics on operators and traffic sectors are also important sources of information.

Once all the possible information has been collected, it is necessary to do a recapitulation, see what additional data is necessary and, in accordance with the deadlines and budgetary capacities, define the field work or campaigns for specific information collection.

As already indicated, territory and mobility are closely linked. Below are some activities to carry out in the transportation planning process for an area linked to physical space:

Delimitation of the study area.

Although the general delimitation of the area is prior to the collection of information, in order that this process is not done indiscriminately, only when the collection of all available information has been carried out can the area in which the transport activity is studied be precisely delimited. They can be one or several parts of the municipality, the entire municipality or a metropolitan area that encompasses several municipalities or part of them.

The decision to delimit one area or another as appropriate for study depends on multiple factors, but the most influential are the following:

In most cases, the scope does not include the place of residence of transport users, who may be using its infrastructure and services even without residing there, but which are usually incorporated into the analysis. In this sense, it is necessary to highlight the interrelationship between the area of ​​study and those that surround it.

Zoning.

It is common practice to carry out zoning of the delimited study area. The reason that justifies this procedure is, basically, to handle smaller volumes of information and leave the details of the distribution of transportation data for subsequent analysis. As zoning criteria, the following are fundamentally considered:

The zoning that is initially outlined, with the previous conditions, may vary if in the process of carrying out the study it is considered necessary to do so. However, it is generally difficult to subdivide it into advanced phases of the project.

Territorial and urban structure.

Another important information to take into account is the territorial and urban framework in which the area to be analyzed is located, since this determines transportation and its entire socioeconomic environment.

Regarding the physical environment, it must be noted if there is a coastline, if there are significant elevations or depressions in the terrain, if rivers or streams circulate, if there are forest parks or wetlands, parks or gardens and all geographical features that are perceived to be notable; and we must highlight its characteristics and its position within the field. In short, it is essential to detail the morphology and geography of the area and take them into account when carrying out any analysis.

At the same time, it is necessary to take stock of the infrastructure that the region has: airports, ports, railways, highways and roads, urban roads, etc. Of all of them it is worth making a brief description of their characteristics and location.

To complete the information to be obtained in this section, it should be noted that it is also necessary to know the urban composition of the area, whether it is made up of one municipality or several. Describing the urban situation, the types of streets and their layout, accesses, the density of each area, etc., will help to have a complete perspective of the characteristics of transportation, as well as the functional areas (commercial, residential, tertiary, higher, industrial).

Short and medium-term forecasts of urban development produce impacts on demand. That is why it is very convenient to have studied the upcoming actions in urban planning and, above all, how they can affect transport demand both in the short and long term. And any modification in the established urban structure, no matter how slight it may seem, can produce a radical change in the behavior and habits of travel in the region. General urban planning plans (PGOU) or subsidiary regulations are the usual sources, although they may sometimes be obsolete, so contact with municipal or regional authorities is usually essential.

The analysis of the urban-territorial model must address basic issues for the development of a transportation system such as:

Equipment

Considering the services intended to serve the public, those that contain: can be considered as attractive potential travel areas.

Socioeconomic and demographic analysis.

For the socioeconomic analysis, the necessary data comes from household surveys, demographic bulletins and analyzes of the same type, prior to the one being developed. This information tries to form an idea of ​​the characteristics of the population, the distribution and qualities of employment, the particularities of education and the levels of motorization in the studied area and the evolution of all these factors. These data are very basic and necessary for any study that wants to be carried out in the considered area: