ISSN 23218355 IJARSGG (2013) Vol.1, No.

2, 34-38
Research Article

International Journal of Advancement in Remote Sensing, GIS and

Geography

IDENTIFICATION OF OPTIMUM PATH FOR

TOURIST PLACES USING GIS BASED NETWORK
ANALYSIS: A CASE STUDY OF NEW DELHI
N. GillI* & B.D. BharathII
I*
M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, Bareilly (gill.scorpio@gmail.com)
II
Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun (bharath@iirs.gov.in)

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ABSTRACT: Network Analysis and Geographic Information System (GIS) is an emerging field of tourism offers an
opportunity in development of modern tourism applications. Today time is considered precious as gold. If time is used
sensibly, more information can be access in a limited time and manner. People, as a tourist, want to visit different places of
sightseeing in a defined time. They need to have detailed and consummate information about those places. Today using
Internet GIS technology it is possible to take a deliberated decision to visit different tourist places effectively. One can virtually
visit the tourist places and determine the optimum path for the visit. Determining shortest route planning for tourist from one
destination to another will be both time saving and economical. Tourism planning becomes essential especially in metropolitan
cities like Delhi, where the heavy traffic condition exists.
The aim of this paper is to explore the GIS based Network analysis for rout optimization of tourist places in Delhi city. The
study determines the optimal route for the tourist origin to destination places including visiting time at each tourist
destination. Route analysis is based upon the impedance, which is cost attribute (time or length) of road network. Analysis is
done on the basis of estimated traveling time and distance in terms of time and length impedance. The study concludes that if
length chosen as impedance, shortest path in terms of distance is suggested, but if time is chosen as impedance then it creates a
quickest route in terms of the estimated speed according to the width of the road. Network analysis enhances the potential of
tourism and in turn enhancing the satisfaction of the tourist. Internet GIS and application for tourism network analysis help
users to provide optimum planning for tourism.

KEY-WORDS - Network analysis, GIS, Tourism, Impedance and Shortest Path

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1. INTRODUCTION: Tourism is a movement of people from one place to various other places for recreation, leisure,
exploration, health, religious and many other aspects. In the past, tourism was only a source of recreation and pilgrimage.
The platforms for tourism based industry are natural environment, culture, art and painting, festivals and many others
which attract tourist at the destination. Lloyd (1) records that the tourist industry is a composite group of heterogeneous
services and industries. The significance of tourism, as defined by Ghosh (2) is among others, one of the major items of
international trade. For poor countries it is a good track to overcome the undeveloped or developing economy because it
controls the unemployment, poverty and inequality. Hall (3) stated that the main reason why governments particularly in
developing countries encourage tourism investment is because of the expectations that it will contribute to economic
development. Carter (4) noted that there is a cumulative relationship between tourism development environment and
socioeconomic development. This means that if tourism is to contribute to sustainable development, then it must be
economically viable, ecologically sensitive and culturally appropriate (5). In developing countries, according to Medlik et
al. (6), tourism is mainly seen as a growth industry as the flow of tourists in these countries distributes foreign currency.
Tourism is probably the largest economic sector of the worlds economy and a tourism destination is considered to be a
fundamental unit of analyses for the understanding of this industry (7).
Tourism destinations have a necessity to innovate to remain competitive in an increasingly global environment
(8). In the busy world there has been a huge development in information technology. Tourism management can be
improved by GIS technology (9). Tourism is an emerging application in the field of GIS. GIS is a tool for capturing,
N. Gill & B.D. Bharath/ International Journal of Advancement in Remote Sensing, GIS and Geography, Vol.1, No. 2 35

analyzing, retrieving and presenting the spatial and non- spatial data for a particular purpose. It further helps in interaction
of people from different culture and countries.
GIS technology offers great opportunities for the development of modern tourism applications using maps.
Tourists who want to visit the sightseeing destination need to have information and visual representation about those
places with the help of GIS tool. This technology integrates common database operations such as query with the unique
visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps (10). Determining the shortest and best route between the
various tourist places from their accommodation is beneficial for tourist in terms of time and economy. Generation of
optimal route of tourist places from the destination is found by the network analysis. Network analysis is the burgeoning
field in the tourism for better planning and development. Network analysis is good to manage the network facilities like
utility, transmission, transport systems, retail store planning and also for tourism route planning. GIS enabled network
analysis help the tourist to plan and view spatially the route to travel tourist places in the shortest time and distance.
Travel-related agencies may develop well-designed, informative and ready-to print maps to enhance visitors travel
experiences. GIS can make it easier for visitors to find their way around their destinations. Using the Internet, it is
possible to provide prospective visitors visualization of the desired destination. Combining photos, sounds and video clips
with mapping technology, visitors can plan their trips ahead of time (11).
The network analysis in GIS, are used for more than just finding the shortest routes like origin-destination matrix,
closest facility, service area and vehicle routing problem. There are four components required in order to perform a
routing in the ArcGIS Network Analyst Extension shown in Fig.1. These elements are termed as Network Dataset,
Network analysis Layer, Network Analysis Classes, and Network Analysis Objects. Each of these elements possesses
attributes required in the routing process.

a. Network Dataset: Network dataset is a model of the transportation network. The analysis of the ArcGIS network
analyst has happened on a network dataset. Network analysis always works on network dataset which contains
information of the network analysis layer like route. The necessary information of route creation is marked or stored here.
b. Network analysis Layer: It manages or stores the inputs, properties and results of a network analysis. The network
analysis layer is displayed in a network analyst window as shown in fig. I.
c. Network Analysis Classes: It provides classes of network layer for example stop barrier and route are the classes of
route layer (fig. I)
d. Network Analysis Objects: It is a record contains in network analysis classes. As shown in the fig. I India Gate and
Lotus temple are the objects of stops, India gate to Lotus temple is a object of route (1) and graphic pick 1, 2 and 3 objects
act as a barrier. Therefore, it provides the tabular data for the route analysis.

Fig. I: Network Analyst Widow

2. STUDY AREA: The study has been conducted in Delhi, which is a tourist hub of northern India as shown in Fig.1.
The geographical location of the Delhi lies within latitude: 28.38N and longitude: 77.12E. Delhi stands on the west
bank of Yamuna River. The city has its historical and tourism importance and has well connected transportation network.
N. Gill & B.D. Bharath/ International Journal of Advancement in Remote Sensing, GIS and Geography, Vol.1, No. 2 36

Delhi is the capital of India and a fast growing city with good road network. Delhi has different types of tourist places like
historical, religious, science museum with a large inflow of domestic and international tourists every year.

Fig. II: Study Area- Delhi City

3. DATA USED AND METHODOLOGY: The present study is mainly concerned with the network connectivity of
tourist places but there is a lot of scope to extend this study up to the web graph of tourism. GIS design and application for
tourism and network analysis help users to supply optimum planning for tourism. Data used and methodology of the study
was mentioned under the heading given below:

3.1. DATA PRODUCT USED: Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) P6 LISS-IV (5.8m) satellite data was used to
prepare the road network and places of tourist interest. Survey of India toposheets (1:50,000) and tourist map were used
for the identification of roads and tourist places respectively. The Right of Way (ROW) map of Delhi Development
Authority (DDA) was used to classify the roads according to the width, and speed was assumed to be constant as per right
of way (shown in table 1). All public roads that is located within land, which is referred to as road right-of-way. Within a
typical road right-of-way, the following public facilities can be found: the driving surface, roadside shoulders and ditch,
public utilities, sidewalks, and traffic signs to name a few. Road right-of way width is established by deed, statute, or
through the platting process.

3.2. SOFTWARE USED: ArcGIS and ERDAS software were used for the analysis and database creation. ERDAS
software was used for geometric correction of satellite data / images and ArcGIS was used to generate spatial data. The
ArcGIS network analyst extension was used for carrying out network analysis.

Classification of
Width (mt.) Speed (kmph)
Roads
National Highway
90 60
Arterial Road
60 50
Sub-Arterial Road
45 40
Major Road
30 30
Table I: Width and Speed of the Road

3.3. METHODOLOGY: The Road network, tourist places, hotel, airport were considered for route identification for
network analysis of tourism. It was based upon the impedance. Impedance is a cost attribute of road network. It may be
time or length which can be chosen by the user. As network analysis also provides an option to restrict the roads for
public transport movement, some roads were made as restricted. Analysis was carried on the basis of estimated travel time
and distance (based on time and length as impedance). In network analyst, there is ability to calculate the shortest and
N. Gill & B.D. Bharath/ International Journal of Advancement in Remote Sensing, GIS and Geography, Vol.1, No. 2 37

quickest route between different tourist places and also to generate route direction. By clicking on the tourist facility,
images of particular place can be obtained, viewed, analyzed and printed for a tourist on demand. In the study, one day
tour package has been prepared for tourists in terms of time and length impedance (cost attribute). Route may be fastest/
quickest, depending upon the impedance chosen by the user.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: The problem of finding the shortest path between two places is to connect with the
best route which can be in terms of length or time. It is the best way to get from one location to another or the best way to
visit several locations. It determines the order of location specified by the user. It can be the quickest /fastest depending
upon the impedance.
The route of a day package considered ten tourist places namely, Chaterpur temple, Lotus Temple, Akshardham
temple, Jantar Mantar, Deer park and Isckon Temple and drive past through the Mahavir Jayanti Park, Birla temple and
Karol Bagh. This package starts and ends at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi at 10:00 am and 4.00 pm
respectively. .
According to this package tourist is assumed to be picked up at 10:00 am from the Indira Gandhi International
Airport and dropped at hotel Vasant Continental for refreshment for 30 minutes. After refreshment tourist starts their visit.
The service time for individual stop (including hotels) is defined in table II. In this package road around India Gate and
Rashtrapati Bhavan were considered to be restricted (barrier introduced) as public vehicles are not allowed to enter those
roads. Route map of one day tour package was generated as shown in fig. 2 (A); it clearly shows the effect of impedance
on the route selection.
The present study found that if the length is taken as impedance it covers 85 km distance but if the time is taken
as impedance it covers 87.3 km distance due to different roads speed travelled. In the fig. 2 (A) it is clearly shown that the
route by length passed through sub-arterial and major road but if time impedance taken route passes through national
highway, arterial and sub-arterial road. The length difference between both routes is 2.3 km. Thus the shortest route is
found by the length attribute. But quickest route is generated through the time attribute while it covers more distance than
length attributes but it takes less time to cover the route. In study the time difference between both impedance routes is
only 2 minutes as only higher road order taken into consideration for study. Along with the fastest/ quickest route ArcGIS
network analyst provides turn by turn route map and visual representation of the tourist place in fig. 2 (B).

TOUR PACKAGE : 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM

Tourist Places/Hotel Service time (min)
Vasant Continental hotel 30
Chhaterpur Temple 15
Lotus Temple 40
Ashoka Edit 20
Iskcon Temple 20
Akshardham Temple 44
Jantar Mantar 22
Karol Bagh Enroute
Birla Temple Enroute
Mahavir Jayanti Park Enroute
Deer Park 20
Vasant Continental hotels 30

Table II: Waiting Time of Individual Tourist Spot

N. Gill & B.D. Bharath/ International Journal of Advancement in Remote Sensing, GIS and Geography, Vol.1, No. 2 38

(B)
(A)
Fig. III: Network Analysis of Tourist Places. (A) - Shortest Route of One Day Tour Package (B) - Detailed information about tourist places and
optimum route for sightseeing.

5. CONCLUSION: Network analysis application for optimum planning for sightseeing tour packages with time and
length impedance was analyzed using GIS. The study concludes that if length chosen as impedance, shortest path in
terms of distance is suggested, but if time is chosen as impedance then it creates a quickest route considering speed
according to the width of the road / ROW.GIS design and application for tourism and network analysis help users to
supply planning for tourism, it enhances the potential of tourism and in turn enhancing the satisfaction of the tourist.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The authors wish to acknowledge the support from the Indian Institute of Remote
Sensing, Dehradun for facilitating this study.

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