The model will provide a better understanding of the transport network and the impact of planned maintenance and unscheduled events on transport users, says project lead and WSP technical director for asset management Elke Beca.
By plotting the country’s spider's web of walking, cycling, micro mobility, public transport, vehicle, ferry, and rail networks, the project will show where users can travel and any mobility restrictions, such as one-way roads, stairs, road blockages, outages, detours, and missing infrastructure.
The Multi Modal Network Model is a foundation of the Asset Management Data Standard (AMDS) project, being developed by Waka Kotahi and the sector, says Elke.
A 15-strong WSP team is developing the model using existing road data, imagery, maps, and other data sets, including from Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), KiwiRail and public transport providers. The team will work with Waka Kotahi and the 68 road controlling authorities (RCAs) to fill in any data gaps - for example, the footpaths and internal walkways that aren’t currently mapped.
With an estimated 100,000 kilometres of roads and 30,000 kilometres of footpaths in Aotearoa, it’s a big job. The first phase will focus on the road network, starting with state highways. Subsequent stages will focus on walking and cycling networks, which aren't well represented in existing datasets.
"We're developing the Multi Modal Network Model as an asset management and planning tool for Waka Kotahi and RCAs across Aotearoa, as well as KiwiRail," says Elke.
"The work we're doing will provide valuable insights for planning, management, analysis, and reporting of land transport assets - now and in the future. It's also a significant step towards supporting digital engineering across the transport sector that has the capability to support and integrate real-time data on traffic issues, crashes, emergency events, flooding, and more.”
Built using open data, the Network Model will be available for anyone to use.
The first phase of the Network Model will be implemented across the state highway network in December this year, and the work completed within two years.
