To generate the least-cost path from Surrey to UBC, using the terminal location identified by the previous step of my methodology, I followed the process outlined below:
a) Identifying the source and destination features
In order to create the path itself, I identified the source feature (i.e. bus terminal location) from the MCE analysis I conducted in the previous step by locating a specific point (from the large area I highlighted in the MCE analysis) where the bus could start from Google Maps. The specific address I chose was 8567 120th Street on the Surrey side of 120th Street. The destination feature in this case was the UBC Bus Loop. For identifying both the source and destination features I used the address locator. To pinpoint both locations I created new feature classes after which I created a point at both locations using the editor toolbar.
b) Assigning Land Use Costs & Raster Conversion
In order to use the specific land use classifications in the land use layer as part of my consideration for the route that the least-cost path will follow, I chose to assign costs to each classification based on my research and intuition. Highest values were assigned to those land uses where a bus route would not be ideal and low values were assigned to those land uses where a bus route would be ideal. Below you will find a table with all 24 (2 more land uses for Metro Vancouver in comparison to Surrey) of these land uses and their associated costs.
Land Use Classification Cost Agriculture 15 Industrial - Extractive 5 Recreation, open space & protected areas 2 Cemetery 10 Residential mobile home park 10 Lakes, large rivers & water 200 Residential single detached duplex 70 Residential rural 40 Residential low rise apartment 90 Residential townhouse 75 Residential institutional/non-market homes 80 Residential high rises 90 Commercial 80 Mixed res/comm - low rises 95 Mixed res/comm - high rises 95 Industrial 60 Institutional 80 Road - right of way 70 Port Metro Vancouver 5 Airport, airstrip 2 Rail, rapid transport & other transport 80 Undeveloped & unclassified 10 Harvesting & research 3 Watershed 2
Table 2. Land use costs for Metro Vancouver.
Upon adding the cost field, I converted the cost surface to a raster using the polygon to raster tool.
c) Generating the Least-Cost Path
In order to generate this least-cost path, I used the cost path tool. This tool generated a raster that I then converted to a line using the raster to polyline tool.