What is an O-D Study?

An origin-destination study, also known as an O-D study, is a type of analysis that is used to understand the patterns of movement for a particular group of people. This information can be used for a variety of purposes, such as planning for transportation infrastructure or understanding the impact of a new development on the surrounding community.

O-D studies typically involve collecting data from a sample of people about their trips over a specified period of time. This data can be collected through surveys, interviews, or GPS tracking devices. Once the data is collected, it is analyzed to understand the patterns of movement.

There are many different ways to analyze O-D data, but some common methods include gravity models and trip distribution matrices. Gravity models are used to understand the attractiveness of a destination, while trip distribution matrices can be used to understand the patterns of movement between different origins and destinations.

O-D studies can be used for a variety of purposes, but they are often used in transportation planning. For example, O-D studies can be used to understand the impact of a new development on the surrounding transportation network. O-D studies can also be used to understand the patterns of travel demand in a community so that transportation infrastructure can be planned accordingly.