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Department for Transport - Accessibility modelling application

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We undertook development of an accessibility planning software tool to assist local authorities and other agencies in tackling social exclusion. The application draws together transport, land use and socio-economic information and helps identify whether people can get to jobs and other key activities.

Accessibility planning was introduced by the Social Exclusion Unit's 2003 report Making the Connections and will be incorporated in the Local Transport Plan process. Local transport authorities are being asked to take the lead in undertaking accessibility assessments and work in partnership with land-use planners, health, education, welfare to work and other local bodies to develop joint action plans. We developed new software, called ACCESSION, which enables assessments to be made for different areas and population groups. It covers a range of transport modes, including public transport, walking and cycling, and helps identify potential solutions such as changes in the location of services and the delivery of education, hospital and public transport.

We built the application upon technology found in ACCMAP, the accessibility mapping software already produced by MVA subsidiary Citilabs, distributed by Basemap and in use by a number of UK local authorities. The new software expands ACCMAP's capabilities to support a partnership environment where information is shared to produce joint action plans and will also report against key performance indicators. The new software draws on Citilabs' transport modelling expertise and MVA's experience in designing public transport data management software. The consultants have incorporated a suite of accessibility algorithms, analytical tools and reporting functions based on a leading GIS platform.