Network Analyst: Closest Facility (with Barriers)

Aim:

 To create a Closest Facility Map with Road Blocks through the use of Network Analyst toolset

Procedure:

Step 1: Map Input

A Base map or toposheet on which Roads and Facilities Point features are digitized and exported as shapefiles. Also, identify, polygon barriers (Like construction locations where Roads are blocked)

Step 2: Map Processing

·         Geo-reference the base map with known location coordinates.

·         Import the digitized Line and Point shapefiles into the target Geo-database.

·         All Line entities of road feature class, needs to be split into right-angles at junctions. Hence use the Planarize line tool from Topology tool options under Editing mode.

·         In ArcCatalog, create a Network Dataset and add Road features.

·         Enable the Network Analyst option in Extension and choose the Closest Facility analysis.

·         In this section, identify and locate Polygon Barriers. This can be any Road Blocks along the route of the road feature class.

·         For Closest Facility analysis, the location of Facilities point and Incident Points are mandatory. One may choose to identify these Facility and Incident Locations manually or load point location shape file(s) created from the base map.

·         On properties of closest facility, set the Impedance to Break Values of Length in Meters.

·         Solve for Closest Facility. The Closest Facility Route Map (In custom Break Values) will be generated for Facilities Point Location.

Step 3: Map Display

 The final Output map can be displayed with Map Elements and grid properties of Layout.

Conclusion:

A Closest Facility route Map, with routes without road bloacks is generated through the use of Network Analyst extension of ArcMap.