Uses of the American Community Survey in transportation analysis

I participated in a National Academies workshop on the benefits (and burdens) of the American Community Survey (ACS). My talk focused on the ways in which ACS data are used in transportation modeling and analysis.

Brief summary:

• ACS summary tables and Public Use Microdata (PUMS) inform regional demographic forecasts through variables including headship, group quarters characteristics, school enrollment, housing structure type, and military and dependent demographic characteristics.
• PUMS data are also used in developing a synthetic population for use in agent-based transportation modeling.
• Census Transportation Planning Products are special tabulations of worker flow data used in calibrating a transportation model.

For more information about the workshop, or for a copy of the presentation, feel free to contact me.