About the ArcGIS Network Analyst tutorial
The ArcGIS Network Analyst extension allows you to build a network dataset and perform
analyses on a network dataset. The best way to learn Network Analyst is to use it. In the
exercises you will do the following:
Objective:
1. Use ArcCatalog / ArcMap to create and build a network dataset from feature classes
stored within a geodatabase.
2. Define connectivity rules and network attributes for the network dataset.
3. Perform various network analyses in ArcMap using the Network Analyst toolbar.
Requirements :
1. ArcGIS installed with the Network Analyst extension
2. Data with its attributes (Speed, Travel Time, Road Hierarchy, Connectivity
information, Oneway information etc..)
Exercise 1: Creating a network dataset
Exercise 2: Finding the best route using a network dataset
Exercise 3: Finding the closest fire stations
Exercise 4: Calculating service area
Exercise 5: Creating an OD cost matrix
Exercise 1: Creating a network dataset
In this exercise, you will create a network dataset in a geodatabase using E44M11
toposheet.
1. Network dataset can be created from ArcCatalog or from ArcMap also.
2. Start ArcCatalog by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcCatalog 10.7.1
3. To Enable the Network Analyst extension.
Click Customize > Extensions.
The Extensions dialog box opens.
Check Network Analyst.
Click Close.
4. On the Standard toolbar, click the Connect To Folder button .
The Connect to Folder dialog box opens.
5. Navigate to the folder with the E44M11 data. The default location for the data is
D:\Network Analyst\
6. Click OK.
A shortcut to the folder is added to the Catalog Tree under Folder Connections.
7. In the Catalog Tree, expand ...\Network Analyst\> E44M11.gdb.
8. Click the Transportation_Road feature dataset.
The feature classes the feature dataset contains are listed on the Contents tab
of ArcCatalog.
9. Right-click the Transportation_Road feature dataset and right click New > Network
Dataset.
10. The New Network Dataset wizard opens.
Note : To open the New Network Dataset wizard in a geodatabase, right-click the
feature dataset that contains the source feature classes (Streets, for example) and
choose New > Network Dataset. For a shapefile-based network dataset, you right-
click the Streets shapefile itself—not the workspace that contains the shapefile—
and choose New > Network Dataset.
The reason for the difference is that geodatabase networks allow you to use multiple
sources that are stored in the feature dataset to create a multimodal network, while
shapefile-based network datasets are only capable of handling a single source
feature class.
Type TRANSPORT_ROAD_ND for the name of the network dataset.
11. Click Next.
12. Check the Streets feature class to use it as a source for the network dataset.
Click Next.
13. Click Yes to model turns in the network.
14. Check <Global Turns>, which enables you to add default turn penalties
Click Next.
15. Click Connectivity.
The Connectivity dialog box opens. Here you can set up the connectivity model for the
network. There are two options are there. If you select Endpoint connectivity, features
will connect at their end point. If you select Any point Connectivity all streets lines can
connect even if they don’t have an “end point” at this location.
16. Click OK to return to the New Network Dataset wizard.
17. Click Next.
18. This dataset has elevation fields, so make sure that the Using Elevation Fields option is
chosen.
Elevation settings in a network dataset further defines connectivity. To understand why,
assume two edges have coincident endpoints in X and Y space but have different
elevations (one endpoint is higher than the other). Furthermore, assume their
connectivity policy is set to Endpoint. If elevation is ignored, the edges connect.
However, if elevation is considered, they won't connect.
There are two ways to model elevations: using true elevation values from geometry or
using logical elevation values from elevation fields.
The Streets feature class has logical elevation values stored as integers in the F_ELEV
and T_ELEV fields. If two coincident endpoints have field elevation values of 1, for
example, the edges will connect. However, if one endpoint has a value of 1, and the
other coincident endpoint has a value of 0 (zero), the edges won't connect. ArcGIS
Network Analyst recognizes the field names in this dataset and automatically maps them, as
shown in the graphic below. (Only integer fields can serve as elevation fields.)
Click NEXT
19. The page for setting network attributes is displayed.
Network attributes are properties of the network that control navigation. Common
examples are cost attributes that function as impedances over the network and
restriction attributes that prohibit traversal in both directions or one direction, like one-
way roads.
ArcGIS Network Analyst analyzes the source feature class (or classes) and looks for
common fields like Meters, Minutes (FT_Minutes and TF_Minutes, one for each
direction), and Oneway Hierarchy.
If it finds these fields, it automatically creates the corresponding network attributes and
assigns the respective fields to them. (This can be viewed by clicking Evaluators.)
Click the Meters row to select it, and then click Evaluators to examine how the values of
network attributes are determined.
The Evaluators dialog box opens.
The table on the Source Values tab lists the source feature classes. Linear source
feature classes, which become edge elements in the network dataset, are listed twice;
once for the from–to direction and once for the to–from direction. (The directions are in
relation to the digitized direction of the source line feature.) The Type column shows the
type of evaluator used to calculate the network attribute values. The Value column holds
information the evaluator needs to calculate attribute values.
From the Attribute drop-down list, click each type of attribute, one at a time, and inspect
the evaluator types and values for the source feature classes.
20. Click OK to return to the New Network Dataset wizard.
The blue symbol is not marked in the attribute. This means the hierarchy won't be used
by default when an analysis layer is created with this network dataset.
Click Next.
21. Define the Travel mode and impedance in the below dialog box.
Check on the Restrictions Oneway as shown above.
Click Next..
It will display the Network Dataset Summary.
Click Finish.
After processing, it prompts the message – click Yes.
After building the network dataset, it prompts for the errors if any, else it will prompt the below
message to add all feature classes participated in network dataset.
Click Yes if you want to add feature classes to the Dataframe.
Exercise 2: Finding the best route using a network dataset
In this exercise, you will find the quickest route to visit a set of stops in a predetermined order.
I. Adding Network
1. Open the ArcMap 10.7.1 and add created required feature classes and Network Dataset.
2. Click Customize > Toolbars > Network Analyst.
The Network Analyst toolbar is added to ArcMap.
3. If the Network Analyst window is not displayed, you need to add it.
4. On the Network Analyst toolbar, click the Show/Hide Network Analyst Window button . The
dockable Network Analyst window opens.
5. You can dock or undock the Network Analyst window. In this exercise, it is docked beside the
Table Of Contents window.
6. Add the Network Dataset and all the layers participated in it.
II. Creating a route analysis layer
1. Click Network Analyst on the Network Analyst toolbar and click New Route.
2. The route analysis layer is added to the Network Analyst window. The network
analysis classes (Stops, Routes, Point Barriers, Line Barriers, and Polygon Barriers)
are empty.
The analysis layer is also added to the Table Of Contents window.
III. Adding a stop
1. In the Network Analyst window, click Stops (0). Stops is selected, which means it is the
active network analysis class.
2. On the Network Analyst toolbar, click the Create Network Location Tool . By clicking on the
map with the Create Network Location Tool, you can add network analysis objects to the
active network analysis class.
3. Click anywhere on the street network to define a new stop location.
4. ArcGIS Network Analyst calculates the nearest network location and symbolizes the
stop with the Located symbol. The stop remains selected until another stop is placed
or you clear the selection.
5. The located stop also displays the number 1. All stops have a unique number,
which represents the order in which the stop will be visited by the route. Also
notice that the Stops class in the Network Analyst window now lists one stop.
6. Add two more stops anywhere on or near the streets.
The new stops are numbered 2 and 3.
The first stop is treated as the origin, and the last as the destination.
The sequence of the stops can be changed by clicking a stop in the Network Analyst
window and dragging it to another position in the list.
If a stop is not located on the network, it appears with an unlocated symbol. (However,
using the default settings, you would need to place a stop more than 5 kilometers from
the nearest street segment for it to not locate.)
You can move an unlocated stop closer to the network to locate it. If a stop is located on
the network but in the wrong location, you can move the stop to the correct position
To move a stop, follow these substeps:
a. Click the Select/Move Network Locations Tool on the Network Analyst toolbar.
b. Click a stop to select it.
c. Click the stop again and drag it to a new location.
IV. Setting up the parameters for
the analysis
You will specify that your route will be
calculated based on travel time (minutes), that
U-turns are allowed anywhere, and that one-
way and turn restrictions must be followed.
1. Click the Analysis Layer Properties button on the Network Analyst window.
The Layer Properties dialog box opens. Select Analysis Settings
2. Make sure that Impedance is set to TravelTime (Minutes).
This network dataset has TravelTime (Minutes) attribute. If you choose to enter a start
time by checking Use Start Time and filling out the three fields below it, Network
Analyst will find the quickest route based on that time of day. Alternatively, it will find
the quickest route based on a function of street lengths and speed limits.
3. Check Use Start Time, enter a specific time and date or day of the week.
4. Leave Use Time Windows unchecked.
5. You can specify time windows for stops and have ArcGIS Network Analyst try to find
a route that honors those time ranges in which a stop should be visited.
6. Leave Reorder Stops To Find Optimal Route unchecked.
By leaving this property unchecked, Network Analyst discovers the best route
given the stop sequence you specify. This is commonly known as the traveling
salesman problem (TSP). If checked, it finds the best route and best sequence
to visit the stops.
7. Click the U-Turns at Junctions drop-down arrow and choose Allowed.
8. Click the Output Shape Type drop-down arrow and choose True Shape with
Measures.
9. Make sure that the Use Hierarchy and Ignore Invalid Locations boxes are
checked.
10. In the Restrictions frame, make sure that RestrictedTurns and Oneway are
checked.
11. In the Directions frame, make sure that Distance Units is set to KM, Use Time
Attribute ischecked, and the time attribute is set to TravelTime (Minutes).
12. The Analysis Settings tab should look like the following graphic; however, your Use Start
Time properties may be different:
Click OK
V. Computing the best route
Click the Solve button on the Network Analyst toolbar. A route feature appears in the map display
and in the Network Analyst window under the Routes class.
If a warning message appears, a stop may be located on a restricted edge. Try moving one or
more stops using the Select/Move Network Locations Tool , which is on the Network Analyst
toolbar.
Click the Directions Window button on the Network Analyst toolbar. The Directions dialog box
opens.
On the rightmost column of the Directions dialog box, click one of the links named Map. An inset
map of the maneuver is displayed.
Click Close.
VI. Adding a barrier
In this section, adding a barrier on the route to represent a roadblock, and you will find an
alternate route to your destination.
In the Network Analyst window under Point Barriers (0), click Restriction (0).
Click the Create Network Location Tool on the Network Analyst toolbar.
Click on the Route to place point barrier
Click the Solve button on the Network Analyst toolbar. A new, alternative route is computed that
avoids the barrier.
Exercise 3: Finding the closest fire stations
In this exercise, we can find the four fire stations that can provide the quickest response to a
fire at a given address. You will also generate routes and driving directions for the firefighters
to follow.
I. Preparing display
1. On the Network Analyst toolbar, click the Show/Hide Network Analyst Window button .
The dockable Network Analyst window opens.
2. You can dock or undock the Network Analyst window. In this exercise, it is docked below
the Table Of Contents window.
II. Creating the closest facility analysis layer
1. Click Network Analyst on the Network Analyst toolbar and click New Closest Facility.
The closest facility analysis layer is added to the Network Analyst window. And the network
analysis classes (Facilities, Incidents, Routes, Point Barriers, Line Barriers, and Polygon Barriers)
are empty.
.
III. Adding facilities
You will load facilities from a point feature layer that represents fire stations. In the Network
Analyst window, right-click Facilities (0) and click Load Locations.
The Load Locations dialog box opens.
Choose FireStations feature class from the Load From drop-down list.
Click OK.
Five fire stations are displayed in the map as facilities and listed in the Network Analyst window.
IV. Adding an incident
Add an incident by manual placement.
Select the Incidents in Network Analyst Window and right click and select Load Locations
/ place the incident manually by selecting Create Network Location Tool on Network
Analysis Toolbar.
Place the incident location manually or from Find Tool. Define the Search Tolerance as
desired. Incident place mannualy on the below screen displaying in Green colour.
V. Setting up parameters for the analysis
Next, you will specify the parameters for your closest facility analysis.
1. Click the Analysis Layer Properties button on the Network Analyst window.
The Layer Properties dialog box opens.
2. Click the Analysis Settings tab.
3. Make sure that Impedance is set to TravelTime (Minutes).
4. Enter 15 in the Default Cutoff Value text box.
ArcGIS will search for fire stations that are within three minutes of the fire on Twin
Peaks Boulevard. Any fire stations outside the cutoff time are ignored.
4. Increase Facilities to Find to 5.
5. ArcGIS will search for a maximum of four fire stations from the fire site. However, the
threeminute cutoff still applies; therefore, if only three fire stations are within the Fifteen -
minute cutoff, then a fourth fire station will not be found.
6. Choose Facility to Incident for the Travel From direction.
7. The search results emanate out from the fire stations, which are loaded as facilities. This
mimics the fire engines traveling from the stations to the fire (incident).
8. Click the U-Turns at Junctions drop-down arrow and choose Allowed.
9. Click the Output Shape Type drop-down arrow and choose True Shape with Measures.
10. Uncheck Use Hierarchy.
11. Check Ignore Invalid Locations.
12. In the Restrictions frame, uncheck RestrictedTurns.
Fire engines don't need to obey this traffic rule in emergencies.
13. In the Directions frame, make sure that Distance Units is set to Miles, Use Time Attribute is
checked, and the time attribute is set to TravelTime (Minutes).
14. Your Analysis Settings tab should look like the following graphic:
Click OK.
VI. Identifying the closest facilities
Click the Solve button on the Network Analyst toolbar
Note that you configured the analysis to find four facilities within a Fifteen minutes cutoff;
however, only Two facilities are within the cutoff.
Exercise 5: Calculating service areas
In this exercise, creating a series of polygons that represent the distance that can be reached
from a facility within a specified amount of time. These polygons are known as service area
polygons.
Also can calculate 3-, 5-, and 10-minute service areas and find how many facilities are within
each of these service areas. You will identify one PHC that should be relocated to better
service the Blocks. Additionally.
1. Start ArcMap by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcMap 10.7.1
2. Double-click E44M11.mxd. The map document opens in ArcMap. Enable the Network Analyst
extension.
3. Click Customize > Toolbars > Network Analyst to add Network Analyst Toolbar. The Network
Analyst toolbar is added to ArcMap.
4. If the Network Analyst window is not displayed, you need to add it.
On the Network Analyst toolbar, click the Show/Hide Network Analyst Window
button. The dockable Network Analyst window opens.
You can dock or undock the Network Analyst window. In this exercise, it is docked beside
the Table Of Contents window.
I. Creating the service area analysis layer
1. Click Network Analyst on the Network Analyst toolbar and click New Service Area.
The service area analysis layer is added to the Network Analyst window. The network
analysis classes (Facilities, Polygons, Lines, Point Barriers, Line Barriers, and Polygon
Barriers) are empty.
The analysis layer is also added to the Table Of Contents window.
2. Adding facilities
Add PHC as facilities for which the service area polygons will be generated. On the
Network Analyst window, right-click Facilities (0) and choose Load Locations.
3. The Load Locations dialog box opens.
In the Load From drop-down list, choose Health_Care_Centers.
Click OK
The Seven facilities are displayed in the map. In the Network Analyst window, click the
plus (+) sign next to Facilities (7) to see a list of the loaded facilities.
4. Setting up the parameters for the analysis
Specifying service area will be calculated based on drive time (using minutes). Three
service area polygons will be calculated for each facility, one at 3 minutes, one at 5
minutes, and another at 10 minutes. You will specify that the direction of travel will be to
the facility—not from the facility, that no U-turns are allowed, and that one-way
restrictions must be followed.
Click the Analysis Layer Properties button on the Network Analyst window.
Click the Analysis Settings tab.
Make sure that Impedance is set to use DriveTime (Minutes).
Type 3 5 10 in the Default Breaks text box.
Under Direction, click away from the Facility.
Choose Allowed from the U-Turns at Junctions drop-down list.
Leave Ignore Invalid Locations checked.
Check Oneway in the Restrictions list.
The Analysis Settings tab should now look like this:
5. Click the Polygon Generation tab.
Make sure that Generate Polygons is checked.
For Polygon Type, click Generalized.
Detailed polygons are more accurate but need more time to be generated.
Uncheck the Trim Polygon option.
This is a post-process that trims the outside polygon to remove spikes but takes
a little longer to run.
Click Overlapping for the Multiple Facilities Options.
This results in individual polygons for each facility. A polygon from one facility
might overlap with a polygon from another, nearby facility.
Click Rings for the Overlap type.
This excludes areas of smaller breaks from the polygons of a bigger break.
Click Apply to save the settings.
Click the Line Generation tab.
Leave Generate Lines unchecked.
Click OK.
6. Run the process to compute the service area
Click the Solve button on the Network Analyst toolbar.
The service area polygons appear on the map and on the Network Analyst window.
The polygons are transparent, which allow you to see the underlying streets. However,
instead of color coding the breaks from dark to light with increasing distance, you will
change them to go from light to dark.
7. In the Table Of Contents window, right-click the Polygons sublayer and choose
Properties.
Click the Symbology tab.
Click the Symbol field name and choose Flip Symbols. (Make sure you click—not right
click—Symbol; otherwise, you get a different context menu.)
Click OK.
The outer and inner service area breaks switch colors, making it clearer what areas the
10-minute breaks cover.
8. Identifying Blocks that are outside all service areas
In the Table Of Contents window, click and drag blocks to the top of the Layers list to
improve visibility.
Click Selection > Select By Location.
Click Apply.
The Blocks that are within the polygons are selected; however, you want to select the
blocks that are outside the service area polygons.
In the Table Of Contents window, right-click Stores and click Selection > Switch
Selection.
The selection now shows the Blocks not contained in any service area polygons.
Use this selection to identify the area in which you will relocate a Primary Health Center.
On the Tools toolbar, click the Clear Selected Features button .
9. Relocating the least accessible warehouse
Look at the service area polygons of Primary Health Centers #5 & #6. There are very
less Blocks within the service areas around Primary Health Centers #2; hence, you will
relocate that PHC to cover more Blocks.
Click the Select Move Network Location Tool on the Network Analyst toolbar.
On the map display, drag PHC #2 to the center of the map as shown below.
10. Run the process to compute the service area
Click the Solve button on the Network Analyst toolbar.
The service area polygons appear on the map and the Network Analyst window.
Exercise 5: Creating an OD cost matrix analysis layer
You can create an origin–destination cost matrix for Health Checkups conducted by the
Primary Health Centers at Anganwadi Centers / Sub centers located. The results of this
matrix can be used to identify such Local Health Centrs that will be serviced by each PHC
within a 10-minute drive time. Also, you can find the total drive time from each PHC to its
sub centers.
In the Table Of Contents window, uncheck the Service Area analysis layer to improve
readability of the map.
Click Network Analyst on the Network Analyst toolbar and click New OD Cost Matrix.
The OD cost matrix analysis layer is added to the Network Analyst window. The
network analysis classes (Origins, Destinations, Lines, Point Barriers, Line Barriers, and
Polygon Barriers) are empty. OD Cost Matrix layer also added.
1. Adding origins
You can use the facilities from the service area analysis (in the previous sections) as
origins. If not completed the section on service areas, you can use the HealthCareCenter
feature layer instead.
In the Network Analyst window, right-click Origins (0) and choose Load Locations.
The Load Locations dialog box opens.
Click ServiceArea / Facilities in the Load From drop-down list.
Uncheck Only load selected rows.
Under Location Position, click Use Geometry.
Click OK.
The Seven new origins are displayed on the map and listed in the Network Analyst
window under Origins.
2. Adding destinations
In the Network Analyst window, right-click Destinations (0) and choose Load Locations.
Choose Sub-centers / Anganwadis in the Load From drop-down list.
Under Location Analysis Properties, for the property name, choose NOM from the Field
drop-down list.
3. Setting up the parameters for the analysis
Next, you will specify that your OD cost matrix will be calculated based on drive time.
You will set a default cutoff value of 10 minutes and ensure that all destinations are found
within the specified cutoff. Additionally, you will specify that U-turns are allowed
everywhere and the output Shape type should be a straight line. Since all these trips are
on roads, one-way restrictions must be followed. All invalid locations (locations not
found) will be ignored.
Click the Analysis Layer Properties button on the Network Analyst window.
Click the Analysis Settings tab.
Make sure that the Impedance drop-down list is set to DriveTime (Minutes).
Type 10 in the Default Cutoff Value text box.
This will create origin–destination paths from each PHC to all sub-centers that can
be reached within 10 minutes.
Make sure that Destinations To Find is set to <All>.
Click the U-Turns at Junctions drop-down arrow and choose Allowed.
Make sure that Output Shape Type is set to Straight Line.
Make sure that Ignore Invalid Locations is checked.
Check Oneway in the Restrictions list.
Click Apply & OK.
The parameter settings are saved.
4. Run the process to create the OD cost matrix
Click the Solve button on the Network Analyst toolbar.
The OD lines appear on the map. There are 68 lines in this example. This number may
be different for you, depending on where you relocated Warehouse #2.
If the Service Area layer is not displayed, turn it on to show the OD Cost Matrix layer on
top of the service areas of the warehouses.
5. Allocating sub-centers to PHCs
Based on the OD cost matrix, you can now identify the sub-centers that would be served
by each warehouse.
In the Network Analyst window, right-click Lines (68) and choose Open Attribute
Table.
The Lines table opens.
The Lines table represents the origin–destination cost matrix from each PHC to the sub-
centers within a 10-minute drive time. The OriginID column contains IDs of PHCs. The
DestinationID column contains IDs of sub-centers. The DestinationRank is a rank
assigned to each destination that is served by a sub-centers based on the total drive
time. For example, in the table below, for PHC #75, DestinationID 15 has a rank of 1.
