Trip generation Trip generation is the first step in the conventional four-step transportation forecasting process (followed by , , and ), widely used for forecasting travel demands. It predicts the number of trips originating in or destined for a particular traffic analysis zone. Typically, trip generation analysis focuses on residences, and residential trip generation is thought of as a function of the social and economic attributes of households. At the level of the traffic analysis zone, residential land uses "produce" or generate trips. Traffic analysis zones are also destinations of trips, trip attractors. The analysis of attractors focuses on non-residential land uses. Trip generation is a model of the number of trips that originate and end in each zone for a given jurisdiction. Given a set of N destination zones and M origin zones (which include all the destination zones and, possibly, zones from adjacent jurisdictions), separate models are produced of the number of crimes originating and ending in each of these zones. That is, a separate model is produced of the number of crimes originating in each of the M origin zones, and another model is produced of the number of crimes ending in each of the N destination zones. The first is a crime production model while the second is a crime attraction model. Two points should be emphasized. First, the models are predictive. That is, the result of the models are a prediction of both the number of crime trips originating in each zone and the number of crime trips ending in each zone (i.e., crimes occurring in a zone). Because the models are a prediction, there is always error between the actual number and that predicted. As long as the error is not too large, the model can be a useful tool for both analyzing the correlates of crime as well as being useful for forecasting or for simulating policy interventions. Second, because the number of crimes attracted to the study jurisdiction will usually be greater than the number of crimes predicted for the origin zones, due primarily to crime trips coming from outside the origin areas, it is necessary to balance the productions and attractions. This is done in two steps. One, an estimate of trips coming from outside the study area (external trips) is added to the predicted origins as an ‘external zone’. Two, a statistical adjustment is done in order to ensure that the total number of origins equals the total number of destinations. This is called balancing and is essential as an input into the second stage of crime travel demand modelling - trip distribution. In the following discussion, first, the logic behind trip generation modelling is presented, including the calibration of a model, the addition of external trips in making a model, and the balancing of predicted origins and predicted destinations. Second, the mechanics of conducting the trip generation model with CrimeStat is discussed and illustrated with data from Baltimore County.

Trip Distribution Trip distribution (or destination choice or zonal interchange analysis), is the second component (after trip generation, but before mode choice and route assignment) in the traditional four-step transportation forecasting model. This step matches trip makers’ origins and destinations to develop a “trip table”, a matrix that displays the number of trips going from each origin to each destination. Historically, this component has been the least developed component of the model.

Modal split A modal share (also called mode split, mode-share, or modal split) is the percentage of travellers using a particular type of transportation or number of trips using said type. In freight transportation, this may be measured in mass. Modal share is an important component in developing sustainable within a city or region. In recent years, many cities have set modal share targets for balanced and sustainable transport modes, particularly 30% of non-motorized (cycling and walking) and 30% of public transport. These goals reflect a desire for a modal shift, or a change between modes, and usually encompasses an increase in the proportion of trips made using sustainable modes

Traffic Assignment Route assignment, route choice, or traffic assignment concerns the selection of routes (alternative called paths) between origins and destinations in transportation networks. It is the fourth step in the conventional transportation forecasting model, following trip generation, trip distribution, and mode choice. The zonal interchange analysis of trip distribution provides origin-destination trip tables. Mode choice analysis tells which travellers will use which mode. To determine facility needs and costs and benefits, we need to know the number of travellers on each route and link of the network (a route is simply a chain of links between an origin and destination). We need to undertake traffic (or trip) assignment. Suppose there is a network of highways and transit systems and a proposed addition. We first want to know the present pattern of traffic delay and then what would happen if the addition were made.