Network operation planning definition
The role and purpose of network operation planning is generally consistent across the literature. It generally relates to the following activities:
- Linking strategic intent with operational outcomes
- Day-to-day (including time-of-day, day-of-week, seasonal) network management and development
- Proactive decision making around movement and place prioritisation and/or trade-offs.
It is also noted that network operation planning is an activity, while a Network Operating Plan is an output.
Network operation planning is defined in various ways. Common terms used include:
- Network, operation, planning
- Performance, framework, management
- Policy, objectives, strategy
- System, area, corridor
- Development, hierarchy, priorities
- Modes, users, day-to-day.
The prevalence of terms in definitions of Network Operations Planning is illustrated below.
Network Operation Planning definition – common terms word cloud
Source: Based on literature review results and generated through https://worditout.com/word-cloud/create
Source material
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Section 3.1 - Purpose of a Framework p15 states: "The purpose of a framework for Network Operations is to assist network managers to monitor the performance of road networks, identify gaps in performance and service delivery, and determine which measures may best address those gaps most efficiently against the needs of a broad range of road users. The Framework is designed to facilitate the attainment of objectives for both the road agency and road users, while recognising that the needs of road agencies and road users may often conflict. The Framework also plays a key role in infrastructure planning by aiming to enhance the longer term efficiency with which we use our road infrastructure." | |
Glossary of Terms in Appendix A p17 states: "A network operation plan describes:
A network operation plan should be developed through consultation with stakeholders and experts." | |
Signal Management Techniques to Support Network Operations (2015) | Section 3.2.1 - Network Operation Planning p6-7 states: "Network operation plans (NOPs) presents network operation planning as a fundamental activity to assist road agencies in managing the use of existing infrastructure more effectively and equitably, in a manner that meets government and community goals and expectations. The outcome, a network operation plan, should guide the operation and development of the road/transport network towards managing competing demands for road space and time from various road user groups." |
Section 1 - Introduction p3-5 states: "A Network Operation Plan (NOP) aims to guide the operation and development of the road/transport network. A NOP contains the short-term initiatives and the strategy that guides the day-to-day operation and management of the road/transport network." | |
Development of the Accessibility-based Network Operations Planning Framework (2015) | Section 2.3 - Scope of NOP in Addressing Accessibility Issues p11 states: "An NOP aims to guide the operation and development of road and transport networks, corridors, individual roads and links. An NOP contains the short-term initiatives and the strategy that guides the day-to-day management and operation of the road and transport network" Section 3.1 - Accessibility-Based Network Operation Planning Framework p13 states: "The focus of an NOP is to address network-wide performance issues and that the appropriate operation strategies and treatments are identified and implemented. In the development of an NOP, the focus is on addressing major performance gaps for all road users in the network in the context of the operational intent of the network." |
Guide to Traffic Management Part 4: Network Management Strategies (2020) | Section 4 - Network Operation Plan p 50-52 states: "As there are often competing priorities between transport modes and adjacent land uses a Network Operation Plan (NOP) aims to guide the operation and development of the road/transport network towards managing competing priorities.
While a NOP contains the short-term initiatives and services that guide day-to-day operations, an NOP may also include longer term improvement works that would facilitate or support the day-to-day operation of the network.
A NOP is sometimes also referred to as a Plan of Operational Management or the outcome is referred to as Planning for Operations in some jurisdictions" |
Section 2.1 - Multimodal Network Operation Planning p4-6 states: "Road network operation planning is relatively new and its methodology is still evolving. Its primary function as a planning process is to align transport improvement initiatives with network operation objectives, high-level network strategies and the primary functions of a road network element. A network operation plan (NOP) is a critical document in the network operation planning process. It is a plan for the operation and management of a road network and sub-network (e.g. corridor, route and link) at optimal conditions. The NOP records the outcome of the earlier phases in the network operation planning process (including operational policy objectives, road-use mix, network performance measures and targets, multiple operational strategies and traffic management, operation and improvement plans)." | |
Guide to Traffic Management Part 9: Transport Control Systems – Strategies and Operations (2020) | Section 6.3.1 - Role in Network Operation Planning p57 states: "A network operation plan (NOP) provides a framework for signal managers and operators to identify and implement operational treatments that will support the objectives for operation of the road network and manage conflicting modal priorities." |
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Section 3.3 - Corridor and area planning p41 states: "The aim of corridor and area planning is to identify options and priorities for initiatives consistent with the network strategy and policy choices. The output is a corridor or area strategy that, among other things, can provide guidance for the corridor or area on issues such as the relative priority of investment versus maintenance, the balance between infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions and type and mic of initiatives (e.g., investment, regulation)." | |
Road Network Planning Urban Design ‘Place’ Character Assessment Methodology and Guidance Notes (2019) | Appendix A, Section 1.5 - Road Network Planning p9 states: "Road Network Plan (RNP): where assessment of road corridors is undertaken with a view to identifying issues, opportunities, key interfaces and future considerations. Corridor vision and objectives are also established which result in the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each objective. This Plan is developed through a series of stakeholder consultations including Council and the Department of Planning. Road Action Plan (RAP): This stage of works takes the vision, objectives and KPIs developed during the earlier stage and prepares design options and prioritises works within a short-medium-long term time frame. Project Development: Once the Road Action Plans are endorsed and funding is secured, the options are progressed to project development stage." |
MRWA Network Operation Planning Framework (2014) | Section 1.2 - What is a Network Operation Plan? p2 states: "Increasing and often competing demands for road space and functionality from various road user groups put pressure on the road. These road user groups can include transit users, pedestrians, cyclists, freight operators and private motorists. A network operation plan aims to guide the operation and development of the road/transport network towards managing these competing requirements from the various road user groups." Section 2.8 - Phase 7: Use and Implementation of the NOP p16 states: "The NOP can also be used to guide general decision-making on a range of operational, customer, project proposal, planning, and policy issues. Decisions that are likely to impact the operation of the network can be tested against the NOP to determine the extent to which a possible response will support (or otherwise) the operational objectives of the NOP." |
Introduction section states: "The network operating framework is an integrated process that helps us better manage and plan the use of the transport network and explicitly link transport to the adjacent land uses." What it is section states: "The network operating framework is simply an agreed process that enables collaborative discussions and that links strategic intent with operational and planning decisions. It does this using four workshop-based steps and a common language for the stakeholders to use. Towards the end of the process, there is a tool that allows performance deficiencies to be identified and interventions tested and compared." | |
Facilitating Network Operations Planning: A Case Study of the VicRoads SmartRoads Framework (2018) | Section 1 - Introduction p1-2 states: "Network Operations Planning (NOP) is becoming 'best practice' in managing complex, multi-modal transport networks and is now promoted in national practice (Austroads 2020c). SmartRoads, an example of a NOP framework, was developed by VicRoads and is used to explicitly manage the trade-offs between transport modes, integrating community and stakeholder input and measuring expected outcomes in the road network."
Section 1.1 What is SmartRoads? p2 states: "Since most roads are not wide enough to allow for all modes of transport to have priority, a hierarchy is needed. SmartRoads relies on the Road Use Hierarchy, which is a set of guiding principles that allocates priority road use by transport mode. The Road Use Hierarchy guides planners about the function of the road and it is defined by mapping the road user priorities on maps of municipal council areas. Once roads have been classified using a Road Use Hierarchy, operational issues can be identified based on the current performance of the road network (using a multi-modal Level of Service framework). Then various solutions to these issues can be identified and tested using a Network Fit Assessment program." |
A comparative study of four network operations planning frameworks guidelines (2010) | Introduction p1 states: "The concept of Network Operations Plans appears to be understood somewhat differently by agencies and practitioners. For example, the Austroads Network Operations Planning Framework (Austroads, 2009a), appears to implicitly imply that a Network Operations Plan should typically be at a higher level focusing on the network objectives and definition. In the VicRoads approach, on the other hand, a Network Operating Plan (sic) is conceptualised as an intersection operating strategy for the arterial network based on a defined road-use hierarchy to achieve broader strategic objectives (VicRoads, 2010). The VicRoads Networking Operating Plan is a collection of intersection operating plans across the network and used as a tool to identify where the arterial road network is not effectively operating at the intersections according to the plan. Thus, in the VicRoads approach, the Network Operations Plan is an interim step leading to assessment of the operating performance at intersection level, as opposed to the Austroads approach where it is an end product." |
Section 2.1 - Managing the road network outcomes p10-13 and Figure 2.3 p10 define the role of the network operating strategy through the following desired outcomes:
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What is Transportation Systems Management and Operations and Why is it Beneficial?" p2 states: "TSMO [transportation systems management and operations] encompasses a broad set of strategies that optimize the safe, efficient, and reliable use of existing and planned transportation infrastructure for all modes. TSMO is undertaken from a systems perspective, which means that strategies are coordinated with related strategies and collaboration occurs among many stakeholders and modes. TSMO strategies range from managing operational systems, like traffic signals, to managing travel demand, like traveller information." "TSMO strategies help transportation agencies address transportation issues in the near-term with lower cost solutions." | |
Section 2.1. Definition p29 states:
"Road network operations can be defined as all traffic management and user support activities intended to permit, improve, or facilitate the use of an existing network, whatever its conditions of use." |
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Warrigal Road Movement & Place – Intersection Operating Principles |
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