Impact assessment using geographic information system (Gis): Transportation engineering applications

This study addresses the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in several transportation engineering applications. Geographic information systems are shown to exhibit significant potential in impact assessment and complex spatial data management. Advances in computing technology have lead to wide spread use of GIS in many areas, particularly in transportation, environmental and landuse impact assessment studies; Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas Nevada has been chosen as the site of a proposed repository for high level nuclear waste. This proposed siting has motivated the study of potential transportation related impacts. GIS may be used to facilitate assessment of potentially affected populations, environmentally sensitive areas, property values, land uses, and other impact measures along potential waste transportation routes leading to Yucca Mountain; In this study, GIS is also used to investigate non-radiological transportation impacts due to the construction and operation of the proposed repository. One important and timely analysis is performed for the relation between air quality and transportation related sources of pollutants in the Las Vegas area. Vehicle miles traveled (VMT), number of refueling stations, air quality measures, and meteorological conditions are some of the measures used to determine these relationships. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)