Road network analysis of Guwahati city using GIS

Starting from the past or medieval period to the present day situation, history clearly indicates that the development of a region was and even today is function of a good transportation network. In the present day, society demands for an efficient and unobstructed road network after experiencing major issues or problems like traffic congestion, delay, pollution, increased vehicle operating cost and road accidents. Keeping in mind the above needs and constraints to traffic movement, an analysis of a digitized road network of the concerned city/town can be one of the best remedy to solve the problems. Such analysis is best suited in ArcGIS, Geographic Information System (GIS) software for creating, analyzing and compiling maps for obtaining information. In the present study an effort was made to prepare a road network map of Guwahati city and to find the shortest route between two places by proper analysis and digitization of its existing road network system in order to solve the traffic related problems to great extent. Network Analyst is a special analysis tool in ArcGIS which not only scrutinize the closest facility available in network of digitized interconnected lines but also facilitates in optimizing route during floods and emergency responses. One of the best models that can be generated through Network Analysis is the shortest route between required origin and destination points. The analysis is done based on input of certain network attributes like traversing distance, time and cost of travel, barriers, vehicle restrictions etc. All the important roads connecting each other within the Guwahati City were digitized in the GIS environment and proceeded further to serve the purpose.