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Advanced Geographic Information Systems for

Transport and Logistics (GIS-T 2, Group A)

lecture number semester

5221 - SS 2017

Assignment 2

Date: 21.03.2017

Handed in by:
Maciej Filipek, h0302525

Handed in for:
Ass.Prof. Mag.Dr. Petra Staufer-Steinnocher
ArcGIS Network Analysis Tool Review
ArcGIS comes with the Network Analyst (NA) extension as a standard module. What is more, that a
third party extension, the WiGeoNetwork (WNR), can also be installed. This report has been
compiled to review both analysts for their unique purposes. The application areas involve the same
features (only named differently) of both solver extensions to optimize certain scenarios that have to
do with spatial analysis.

Routing optimises the distance between two nodes. (New Route/Routing)


A distance cost matrix is available to compute the shortest or closest distance between two
spatial geometric objects. (New OD Cost Matrix/ Distance Matrix)
Allocation of a certain number of closest facilities for a specific number of destinations. (New
Closest Facility/ Closest Facility)
Vehicle routing problem computes the routes of certain customers to a specific facility. (New
Vehicle Routing Problem/ Facility Tree)
Driving distances and times give specific service areas (New Service Area/ Service Area)
Street sections that are within a maximum driving distance or time from a number of input
locations can modelled. (New Location- Allocation/ Service Net)
The feature potential area is a unique feature of WGN used for polygon calculation.

It depends strongly on the imposed problem, which analyst to use. When it comes to routing, the NA
can handle moderate multimodal networks. When it comes to huge networks (Europe-Multinet) the
NA suffers from memory loss, due to an overflow of iterations. The WGN does not save or backup
those iterations. Only the optimal solutions are stored. Therefore, larger transportation problems are
better solved in WGN. The downside of the WNR is that the solutions are stored in a shapefile.
Therefore, the application of further analysis results in running the WNR again. The NA has more
options when it comes to flexibility. As an example the problem of humanitarian supply chain the NA
can implement polygon reductions, which the WNR has issues with. Overall the NA is more flexible
when it comes to alternation of scenarios. In addition to this NA is able to work with the model
toolbox in ArcGIS, which imposes easier implementation of datasets. However, for operational
purposes the WGN relies on the TomTom real time traffic information (Speed profiles). The NA
cannot perform this task without additional APIs.

Network Analyst WiGeoNetwork WiGeoNetwork

Complexity of Problem
Userfriendly
Ressource usage
Flexibility
Overall

To conclude, both analysts are powerfull. However, the WNR is more userfriendly and provides the
user with faster results. Whereas the NA is suitable for more complex issues. Furthermore, the
ressource allocation is a disadvantage. For managerial purposes it depends on the case which solver
to use. Regarding overall performance the WNR has only little advantage oder the NA.

For further review:


ESRI Network Analyst Tutorial
WIGeoNetwork 10.x User Manuals (eng. and dt.) only with account
WiGeoNetwork
ESRI Hompage (NA)

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