Waste Disposal Route Generator (WDRG)

This application is a tool to assist Waste Management decision makers in estimating price quotes for bids. WDRG integrates ArcView with Network Analyst, StreetMap, MS Access and MS Excel to provide a complete solution for Waste Management professionals.

WDRG is primarily run through ArcView, which controls and updates a very large data base. The database is tightly integrated with ArcView for query, display and editing. When used in a distribute environment it is updated using MS Access tools which update the data base daily. The access update tool is also used to update and process the base data set available in the market for use with WDRG.

The existing ArcView interface is further developed to provide additional functionality of analysis, editing, pricing and presentation. All the four tool sets are tightly integrated to provide easy access to the user.

Analytical Tools:

These tools help the users easily navigate through the large spatial dataset. Users can zoom in at different levels of geography and find a waste disposal facility easily. WDRG interface accomplishes this through user input dialog boxes which list all available options. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the facility map.

The attributes of facilities within the view can be collectively analyzed using the summary tool which synthesizes significant attributes of facilities in chart and table format. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the charting tool.

The tipping fee tool is used to quickly assess facility tipping fee distribution at user specified distance around the point of interest. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the tipping fee tool.

Network Analyst Enhancements:

As delivered, Network Analyst cannot use the geocoding capabilities of StreetMap. However, in WDRG, WESTON has seamlessly integrated StreetMap with Network Analyst. Hence, instead of selecting an existing point from a point theme, the users can Geocode an address location using StreetMap and add it to Network Analyst to generate routes. To generate the shortest paths between facilities WDRG uses US Highways shape file from Geographic Data Technology. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the Network Analyst shortest path tool.

The market data for waste disposal facilities contains spatial and attribute inaccuracies. WDRG provides two user friendly tools to help fix this:

The 'Edit Attributes' tool provides two options to the user. The first option is to edit the attributes of a facility. The user is presented with a list of legally editable field’s for the selected facility. Once the end user selects desired fields it displays existing values of selected fields which can be modified. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the attribute editing tool.

The other option 'Move Facility' on the Edit Attributes tool asks the user to specify the correct location of the selected facility on the map. Once the user points to the location, the coordinates of the selected facility are changed to the specified coordinates and the view is updated to display the new location of facility. Standard ArcView tools for zoom and pan are available to help the user specify accurate location.

All the edits performed in WDRG are logged into the database for future reference.

Pricing Tool: This tool is initiated from pulldown menu File> Start Price Module. A log of the whole session is kept in the database so that any route identified in a specific session can be retrieved on a later data. Each session of the Price Tool facilitates generating many alternative cost scenarios (called Cost Route) for waste disposal from a specific facility or address. A Cost Route can contain single or multiple modes of transportation(Road, Rail or Marine). Theoretically a single route can contain unlimited number of sub-routes (called Paths), each with its own specific mode and cost type. Paths are identified between two facilities which can be either a Transfer Station (with a Transfer Fee) of a final destination (with a Tipping Fee). Each Cost Route is displayed on the map as it is being created by WDRG. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the Pricing Tool.

Costs among multiple routes can also be analyzed using the Route Details tool, which displays all the cost details and inherent assumptions in a tabular format. Users can alter values in the table to recalculate route costs without using the Generate Routes tool. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the route generation tool.

Route Details table can also be exported to Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, thus giving the users access to all the capabilities of MS Excel. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the route details table.

Users can use the customized mapping tool to layout a map of the view. This tool is always accessible in the view interface. Click on the icon below to view a screen shot of the mapping tool.