Dataset Tab

Use the Dataset tab to select the current dataset, view data component locations, set the geocoding service, and choose the street network you want to use.

The Dataset tab is used to set locations for major data components that come with the product—that is, ESRI demographic data, Infogroup business listings, Tele Atlas street data, and so on—as well as your preferences for address locator (geocoder). In most cases, you will be using the USA Geocoding Service provided with Business Analyst.

Overview

The Streets Network setting increases performance for large-sized and large amounts of drive-time trade areas. The hybrid use of multiple solvers and network datasets allow optimal processing without sacrificing accuracy.

The following network datasets are used in the network hierarchy:

• streets.rs—Default streets network used for smaller drive-time/distance polygons
• connectorsrte.rs—A more generalized version of streets.rs used for medium-range polygons

When the Use hybrid option is selected, the Business Analyst Drive Time Trade Area tool automatically switches between the above datasets depending on the configurable thresholds.

The thresholds are specified in the *.shr file that is installed to the same folder with the accompanying *.rs file.

Here is an example of an .shr file:

<streetshierarchy>
<dataset path="streets.rs" solver_guid="{BE7D726F-CD2E-447F-A2DA-83F5E923B343}" 
<limit units="5"threshold="20"/>
<limit units="15"threshold="20"/>
</dataset>
<dataset path="connectorsrte.rs" snaptolerance="5" snaptoleranceunits="5">
<limit units="5"threshold="50"/>
<limit units="15"threshold="50"/>
</dataset>
</streetshierarchy >

This file describes the following:

• streets.rs will be used for rings that are smaller than 20 miles or 20 minutes. In this case, the StreetMap solver will be used (it is described with the solver_guid attribute).
• connectorsrte.rs will be used for rings that are smaller than 50 miles or 50 minutes and larger than 20 miles and 20 minutes. The Network Analyst solver will be used and is the default.

For example, if the following ring values are specified: 5, 15, 30, and 90 minutes, the Business Analyst Drive Time Trade Area tool will use streets.rs for creating 5- and 15-minute rings, connectorsrte.rs for 30- and 90-minute rings.

A potential issue may arise with rings containing sizes close to the threshold between two networks. For instance, when switching to the generalized network, the drive time becomes coarser and you might see a significant change in population though the change in drive time is subtle.

The hybrid solver utilizes both StreetMap and Network Analyst, although StreetMap uses SDC datasets only. Any SDC network dataset should work if there is a corresponding .shr file in the same folder.