How to Calculate Drive-Time Polygons

In this guide we will show how to use drive-time analysis in Azimap.

Time to complete: 5 mins.

Contents

1.    Open an existing map

2.    Calculating drive time

2.1  Using the drive time tool

2.2  SINGLE tab

2.3  INTERVALS tab

2.4  GROUPS tab

1.    Open an existing map

Click on the row of your chosen map to open it.

2.    Calculating drive time

2.1.  Using the drive time tool

Select the ROUTING AND DRIVE TIME menu from the toolbar.

Select NETWORK ANALYSIS (CAR) from the menu.

This will open the drive time side panel.

The drive time panel consists of three tabs:

• Single drive time – analyses where you could get to within a given drive time from a given location.
• Intervals – drive time analysis divided up by regular time bands.
• Groups – select multiple point features on a map and get drive time polygons for each.

2.2.  SINGLE tab

Use the SEARCH box to enter your desired drive time in minutes.

Choose drive time polygon fill colour and stroke colour.

Reset form to defaults.

Select your ‘from’ location (use button to click map to choose starting point).

2.3.  Example

I selected the Hammersmith Apollo in London as my centre point and got the resulting drive time polygon showing 15 mins drive time in all directions.

After creating a drive time polygon it can be cloned to an existing polygon layer on the map using the CLONE button in the top right of the drive time panel.    

And paste using the toolbar paste button.

This will copy the drive time poly (left) to a polygon (right) as per the below image, so it can be saved as a permanent feature on your map.

2.4.  INTERVALS tab

The INTERVALS panel allows for the analysis of regular drive time bands from a given location.  E.g. in this example, we’ll be raising a polygon that will show a 30 minute drive time from Hammersmith Apollo, in 5 minute bands.

There are two input boxes:

• Time duration – max time of analysis
• Time interval – band size of drive time polygon 

Choose drivetime polygon near fill colour (smallest polygon) and far fill colour (largest polygon) and stroke (or band divider) colour.

Reset form to defaults

Generate drive time ‘from’ location (select button and then click map to generate drive time polygons).

Again, I selected the Hammersmith Apollo in London as my ‘from’ location and got the resulting drive time polygons showing 30 mins drive time in all directions in 5 minute bands.

2.5.  GROUPS tab

The groups panel allows for the analysis of multiple drive times calculated from selected points on a map layer (single or multi).

This tab works slightly differently in that you can only create a ‘groups’ analysis on a ‘points’ layer, instead of on a ‘polygon’ layer like we did with the last two tabs. You also need to have the locations already pre-selected onto your layer, so if you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to put the locations onto your layer using the ‘points’ tool on the main toolbar.

Search box for drive time in minutes.

Choose drive time polygon fill colour and stroke colour.

Reset form to defaults.

Select multiple point features on a map using lasso tool. This analysis will only be performed on any point that falls within the polygon that you draw with this lasso tool.

The selected features should look as below.

Click on the GENERATE button to run the drive time analysis.

This generates 15-minute drive times for each of the selected points.

That’s all for our drive time analysis.

Thanks for reading the guide and we hope you plan your future routes with Azimap.

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