ArcMap Ground Distance Calculation Between Multiple Points

Question

Hello, all. I'm very new (started this week!) to using ArcMap so please excuse me if the question is trivial to some. I'm working on a project that requires calculating the ground distance between a large number of stations across the United states. I have separate data on both the stations' locations and the ground road network in the continental US, and I'm able to import them both in ArcMap as two separate feature classes. My goal is to calculate the shortest distance between each station pair using the road network (i.e. as if someone was realistically driving on the road network from point A to B) . My question is, is this something that is possible to do in ArcMap? and if so, what's the best way to go about doing it?

DanPatterson_Retired · Answer

Get back if you run into issues.. the tutorials will help for a first time run through

deleted-user-B2adxbDoYdZb · Answer

Thank you very much, Dan. The resources you listed look very in line with what I'm trying to do. I will be on the lookout for replies from the network analyst team as well.

DanPatterson_Retired · Answer

Karl...

The general layout or solution options is here

What is the ArcGIS Network Analyst extension?—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop

but there is a lot of work to do prior to getting a solution

but it sounds like you are more interested in the distances than the routes

Tutorial: Generate Origin Destination Cost Matrix—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop

unless you want single pairs

Tutorial: Create routes—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop

and if you want to model repetitive processes

Create a model for route analysis—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop

there are also online services that you may want to use, but at least the tutorials will get your oriented properly since the tools in the toolbox are laid alphabetically rather than being process oriented

In am sure the network analyst team will weight in at some point soon