A GIS-based context sensitive solution for multimodal road planning

Abstract

Paper presented at the 30th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 11-14 July 2011 "Africa on the Move", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

Context sensitive design (CSD) has been identified as a key mechanism to address the mounting safety and sustainability problems transportation presents in urban areas in the developed world, and an intensive research effort is currently underway to understand the implications for planning practice. However, CSD is relatively unknown in the developing world, where arguably, the concept has even more potential to improve conditions. One of the main weaknesses of the method is that it tends to rely on qualitative processes, when much of transport planning and design practice is quantitative in nature. This paper introduces a new road planning methodology that draws on the concepts underlying CSD and, using a GIs-based spatial decision support system, quantifies a range of contextual inputs to develop planning recommendations for urban roads. The method is demonstrated by means of a case study conducted along an arterial route in Gape Town.