A trip length distribution (TLD) calculates the number of trips from one (trip) matrix within length bands defined by another matrix. “Length” here refers to any one of properties such as distance, time, generalised cost, etc, and should more properly be referred to by the generic title “cost”. Thus if “length” or “cost” is a time matrix then the TLD lists the number of ij trips in the time band 0 - 20 seconds, 20 - 40 seconds, etc. where the “width” of each band is user-set. (Note a cost of 0.0 is included in band 1 and an exact cost of 20.000 etc. is “rounded up” into band 2.)
The output appears in the line printer (.LPX) file both as a tabular distribution plus average “lengths” per origin and various totals.
The numerical data from the TLD may also be exported to an external text file which may prove useful for input into programs such as Excel for further manipulation, graphical display, etc. The same data may also be displayed within a text window.
Graphical plots of a trip length distribution can be obtained either here or under the Matrix Graphics options - see 10.12.
N.B. The TLD option is currently only available for square (i.e., unstacked) matrices.