Establish study scope

Method1.1

Determine and record the spatial scope used throughout the analysis. The subject is the place access is assessed to; the catchment is the area access is assessed from. Together, they frame every later measure.

Study scopeRecord once · reuse throughout

SubjectThe place whose connections the study diagnoses (a station area, downtown, campus, or district). Record it as a bounded area rather than a point: travel times, distances, and trip itineraries are all measured between areas.

CatchmentThe area from which access to the subject is evaluated, containing the subject entirely. It bounds all data collection, and every priority ranking in Phase 2 and every distance in Phase 4 is measured relative to it. Fix it once; changing the catchment restarts the analysis.

Flux walkthrough1.1

Define the subject and catchment

Colorado Connector Fort Collins, Colorado

Start a new analysis

A new analysis in the Connectivity Analyzer begins with two definitions: the subject and its catchment. We named the analysis Fort Collins Colorado Connector F/LM Study. The name is optional, but it keeps the work identifiable once it is saved.

The subject is active first. It can be drawn, found by search, uploaded, or selected from a saved area. We selected Draw for the proposed station area.

New Connectivity Analysis screen over a regional map, with Draw, Search, Upload, and Saved areas controls and an active Subject name field. — The setup opens with the subject active and the catchment locked until the subject is defined.

Define the subject as an area

We drew a bounded station area around the Downtown Transit Center rather than marking the subject with a point.

New Connectivity Analysis screen zoomed to downtown Fort Collins, with a polygon drawn around the Downtown Transit Center and the Subject name field active.

Set the catchment from the subject

Completing the subject unlocks the catchment. Because the Colorado Connector is a regional rail service, we buffered the subject by 10 miles and named the catchment 10-Mile Buffer Around DTC.

New Connectivity Analysis screen showing a 10-mile circular catchment preview around the Downtown Transit Center subject, with the Buffer tool open.

Review and start the analysis

Check both names and boundaries before starting. Once started, the Connectivity Analyzer prepares indicators across the catchment and takes you to the Connection Objectives stage.

New Connectivity Analysis screen showing the named Downtown Transit Center subject and retained 10-Mile Buffer Around DTC catchment, with Start analysis enabled. — The completed setup records the subject and catchment together. Start analysis becomes available once both are defined.