Getting Started

Getting Started⚓︎

This section explains how to sign in, load a dataset, configure preferences, and generate your first walkshed.

For a list of all guides on the TCAT Wiki, refer to the Guides List.

Accessing the Walksheds Tool⚓︎

The Walksheds tool is a web application, so no download or installation is required. It runs directly in your browser on any device, including phone, tablet, or desktop.

1. Open your preferred web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

2. Navigate to walkshed.tdei.us

Select a Dataset⚓︎

Before calculating a walkshed, you must load an OpenSidewalks pedestrian network. Open the Datasets tab (gear icon) in the left sidebar. Select a dataset that has been uploaded to the Transportation Data Exchange Initiative (TDEI). For information on finding and managing datasets in TDEI, refer to the TDEI Datasets guide.

After selecting a dataset, click Build Router to begin constructing the routing graph. Depending on the size of the dataset, this may take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. When the router is ready, the tool will display a button to refresh—click it to load the walkshed tool with the new dataset. This step is required each time you switch datasets.

Configure Preferences⚓︎

Open the Walkshed Preferences tab (network graph icon) in the left sidebar to configure walkshed preferences. Several mobility profiles are available: "Manual wheelchair", "Powered wheelchair", and "Cane". These automatically set slope limits and obstacle avoidance to sensible defaults for each mobility type.

Note that selecting a profile locks all preferences. To adjust mobility preferences manually, select the "Custom" profile and set the controls directly (see Mobility Profiles and Preferences).

Set Your Origin Point and Travel Budget⚓︎

Click anywhere on the map to set the origin point, or use the address search in the Walkshed Preferences tab to locate a specific address. In the left sidebar, choose a maximum travel cost (in seconds of estimated travel time) that determines how far the walkshed extends. The walkshed visualization updates automatically as you move the origin or adjust a preference.

Reading the Results⚓︎

All paths reachable from your origin within the travel budget (sidewalks, crossings, and other paths) are highlighted in blue on the map. Paths that fall outside the budget or are excluded by your preferences (due to excessive slope, raised curbs, stairs, etc.) are not highlighted, creating visible gaps that reflect real barriers in the pedestrian environment.

You can use the map legend controls (top right) to additionally toggle the display of network nodes and the convex hull boundary enclosing the walkshed area. Continue reading for more detailed explanations of all of the TDEI Walksheds tool's features.

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Next: Interface Overview