Use Case Library

Replica works with state and local government agencies, AEC firms, and enterprise clients across the United States who use our data model to answer pressing questions. See below for our use case library:

Categories

Academic Research

Worker-Transit Impact Study
RideKC wanted to determine how many workers are relying on transit to get to/from work along a heavily trafficked commercial and industrial area where transit routes and sidewalks were incomplete/non-existent. The goal of the study was to determine potential employment turn-over due to lack of job access, estimate annual labor needs/losses because of it, and partner with major employers to fund transit improvement and expansion.
Tags: Multimodal, Traveler demographics

Economic Development

Analyzing Weekend vs Weekday Spend by Neighborhood & Industry
El Paso utilizes the combination of Replica’s mobility, spending, and demographic data to understand changing behavior patterns post-COVID, and to support downtown economic development strategies. One of many related analyses is to study the difference in weekday and weekend spending across retail, grocery stores and restaurants, to influence congestion management, transit scheduling, and economic recovery.
Tags: Consumer spend data

Electric Vehicles

EV Action Plan
The Washington State Transportation Electrification Strategy aims to reduce transportation emissions by 57% by 2030, with the majority of the reduction slated to come from electric vehicles. To support this plan, the WA Department of Commerce has incorporated Replica data, along with other data sources, into its EV action roadmap. Replica's trip data has been utilized in predicting EV trends and estimating charging infrastructure needs. The strategy also includes a case study on Washington's EV Charging Program, detailing fund allocation and utilization assessments based on Replica trip data.
Tags: Multimodal, Link-level volumes

Academic Research

Transportation Inequity & Proximity Analysis
The Brookings Institution used Replica data to analyze travel patterns in metropolitan areas, aiming to design neighborhoods and transportation systems that maximize proximity benefits. This analysis helps identify trends in travel patterns, such as how individuals aged 65 or over travel and where those without access to private automobiles are located. Understanding these patterns can inform the design of neighborhoods and transportation systems to better serve the community's needs.
The report can be read here.
Tags: Custom Zones, Traveler demographics

Transit

Transit Ridership Analysis
New York City Transit (NYCT) is utilizing Replica data to analyze the travel behaviors of New Jersey residents commuting to Manhattan and using the subway system. This analysis aims to uncover how many New Jersey residents rely on the subway, their origins, destinations, and transportation modes. Replica's data allows NYCT to track individual movements, including trip details like timing, transportation mode, and purpose. This information helps identify areas with high public transportation demand and informs the development of new services and infrastructure.
Tags: Multimodal, Trip Purposes, Traveler demographics

Infrastructure Investments

Statewide NEVI Planning
IDOT integrated Replica with Justice40 and US DOE datasets to evaluate existing and planning EV charging stations relative to the travel patterns of lower-income, minority populations. Through this analysis, IDOT identified corridors with sufficient charging stations, corridors with the highest need for new charging stations, and corridors where the lack of existing infrastructure most impacted Community of Concern residents' ability to get to work. Replica's equity-centric data has allowed IDOT, NYSDOT, and others to inform NEVI, SMART, ATTAIN, and other federal grant applications.
Tags: Link-level volumes, Custom ODs, Traveler demographics

Safety

Speed Limit Adherence Analysis
City of El Paso was interested in where El Paso drivers tend to drive faster (and slower) than the posted speed limit. Specifically, they wanted to look at how people drive on neighborhood roads and arterials, rather than on freeways or when they are stuck in traffic. The analysis used Replica's average 'free flow' speeds and compared those to posted speed limits. The City created a map to visualize which neighborhoods have average free flow driving speeds that are higher and lower than the posted speed limits.
Tags: Link-level speeds

Pandemic Recovery

Creating a Regional Profile
Together, Replica and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), used Replica data to create a profile of the service area that included pandemic recovery trends and trip taker characteristics. As new Replica data is released, the Regional Profile can be updated to match the most recent data.
Tags: Custom ODs, Pre-Post Pandemic Changes

Equity & Accessibility

Developing Regional Mobility Plan
DuPage County's regional mobility plan received a significant update with the support of Replica data. The goal was to enhance transportation infrastructure and services by understanding resident and worker travel patterns and needs. Replica's data played a critical role, offering insights into trip origins, destinations, distances, transportation modes, and more.
This information guided strategies to improve access to frequently visited places. The data also analyzed trip patterns, common purposes (work, school, shopping), and distances traveled.
Tags: Custom ODs, Multimodal, Traveler demographics

Active Transportation

Win Reconnecting Communities Grant Funding
Replica played a pivotal role in securing a $19 million grant for Rancho Cordova, California's Reconnecting Communities project. Dewberry, a prominent engineering and consulting firm, used Replica data, including origin-destination pairs and bike and pedestrian data, to bolster their proposal.
Tags: Custom ODs, Multimodal

Environmental / Climate Impact

Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Replica played a crucial role in assisting the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) in creating detailed greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories for individual municipalities. While CMAP typically conducts regional-level GHG inventories, Replica enabled CMAP to utilize local-level data for granular inventories, resulting in county and city-level emissions data.
See the full report here.
Tags: Link-level volumes, Custom ODs

Traffic and Congestion

MPO Congestion Management Process
The Capital Region Transportation Council in Albany, NY used Replica data to inform the MPO's Congestion Management Process (CMP). In the 2023 update to the Capital Region's CMP, CRTC uses Replica's seasonal and weekly mobility data to explain utilization of the region's multimodal transportation system as well as work-from-home estimates. The CMP includes mode split data for Fall 2023 and also presents trends in non-motorized trip volumes dating back to 2019.
Tags: Link-level volumes, Link-level speeds, Custom ODs

Conclusion

The variety and impact of each use case showcases how Replica’s data can inform strategic decisions across multiple domains, effectively enhancing urban planning and improving transportation systems.