American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Which type of analysis would consider how a city’s zoning affects transportation rates?

1. Trip distribution

2. Modal Split

3. Gravity model

4. Cross tabulation model

The correct answer is: Gravity model

The gravity model is particularly suited for understanding how the characteristics of different areas, such as zoning, influence transportation patterns and rates. This model is based on the idea that travel between two locations is directly proportional to their attractions (like population or employment) and inversely proportional to the distance separating them. In the context of zoning, the gravity model helps analyze how various zoning types (such as residential, commercial, or industrial) might affect the volume and flow of transportation. By examining different zones within a city, planners can predict travel behavior and identify how zoning changes could impact transportation accessibility, costs, and efficiency. Each of the other types of analysis—trip distribution, modal split, and cross-tabulation—serves distinct purposes in transportation and urban planning. Trip distribution focuses primarily on how trips are allocated from origins to destinations, modal split analyzes the portion of trips made by different transportation modes (like car, bus, or walking), and cross-tabulation organizes and compares two categorical variables without delving deeply into the relationship produced by zoning characteristics. However, none of these offer the comprehensive insight into the interplay between zoning and transportation rates that the gravity model provides.