Backhaul Optimization model - Avoid Interstates

[JonathanMori3]

When using the Backhaul Optimization model, one of our requested  Restrictions for our fiber routes is to avoid Interstate Highways.

I noticed it is not one of the options for Restrictions in the properties for the Closest Facility layer.

Is there any way I can configure it to Avoid any interstate highways while running the Backhaul Model

Thanks!

[SpatialNinja]

Hunter West‌, is this a question you can look into?

[HunterWest · Accepted solution]

Hi Jonathan,

Yes, there is absolutely a way to do that, but it is going to take a bit more work than some of the other properties where you can just check a box and be done with it.

What you will have to do here is use the interstate highways as a "line barrier" in your network dataset. That way, when you generate your closest facilities layer, it will not accept routes that include highways as an acceptable option.

As this knowledge base article points out, there are two ways to effectively create a line barrier: manually using snapping, or utilizing a streets layer. How to do each one is outlined in the article. Here is a link to the documentation on Network Analyst barriers, in case you aren't familiar.

If you don't have your own streets layer, ArcGIS Online has one available that includes all streets in the US. You can then select by the streets classification and create your own highway layer to use for this.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and good luck!

[JonathanMori3]

Hunter,

Thank you! I have the streetmap_na that I have been using with the Backhaul Model, is that the street layer you are referring to? If not can you point me to the streets layer that you mentioned from ArcGIS Online?

Thanks again!

- Jon

[HunterWest]

The one that I'm referring to has an field within it that classifies each street with a ranking from 1 through 7 based on the amount of traffic that it gets. So you have a little more control over whether your using highways and freeways, or just one or the other. That might be the streetmap_na feature service, I'm not certain.

There are also 3 layer packages in ArcGIS Online hosted by "esri_dm" that have already done that process - USA Major Highways, USA Minor Highways, and USA Freeways. Those might be the way to go for you.

Let me know what else you need.

[JonathanMori3]

I found a ROAD_CL field that ranks it from 1-6. I think that may be the one you are referring to?

[HunterWest]

Yes, that's it! I can't remember if "1" is the largest or "6" is the largest, but if you run a selection on the two or three largest and just export a new layer from that it should give you all major highways and freeways.

You'll just have to play with it and see what fits your needs that best.

[JonathanMori3]

Thank you, that seemed to be working! Just one last question, is there any way to load the Line Barriers other than a Memory Feature class. It is a very large dataset, and it is really bogging down my system.

[HunterWest]

Good question - one way to do it would just be to clip your input features to only use the area that you're interested in, but if your network dataset spans a large area then this won't be optimal.

The other (and more direct) way to do it would be to use the "Calculate Locations" geoprocessing tool, which will generate a field telling the network dataset where those features are in relation to it, and then running the "Add Locations" geoprocessing tool using that new field instead of the line features geometry. That should make the features a reference rather than a sort of copied memory object.

Does that make sense? Let me know if you have any additional questions and how that works out for you

-Hunter