Integrating GIS and AHP for bus route definition

Abstract

In this paper, we present the integration of GIS and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) to solve a bus routing problem. This integration is essential to consider geographical and spatial characteristics of urban areas and consequently to provide to transportation planners the fundamental information for decision-making activities. In this sense, raster data format was explored in order to conduct spatial analysis, that significantly contribute for the obtainment of information for judgement activities of AHP. The application of GIS-AHP integration in Sobradinho City, Federal District, Brazil, has showed its capability to help planners through out a effective and comprehensive approach of the most important factors affecting the bus route definition.