GOAT - FAQ

Data

Does GOAT comes equipped with data?

GOAT comes with a data catalogue. It consists of many German as well as some European datasets that are ready to be explored and used for the analyses. Among others, data on boundaries, landuse, environment, people, transportation and POIs like charging points, parking, supermarkets are provided. Furthermore, your own datasets can be integrated.

Where does the data come from?

A good data basis is a basic requirement for any analysis. Various spatial and non-spatial datasets are integrated in GOAT. The data originates from various Open Data portals, among others, the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy, the Land Surveying Offices, Overture Maps Foundation, OpenStreetMap and the Census. In addition, we selectively collect own datasets and commercial data is purchased if required. Further datasets can be integrated flexibly.

How often is the data updated in GOAT?

We ensure that the data in our applications is up to date by adopting the publication cycles of the data sources. Usually, our data is updated once or more often per year.

Can I upload my own data?

Yes, additional datasets can be flexibly integrated as needed. GOAT supports common formats such as Shapefiles, Geopackages, GeoJSON, CSV, XLSX, WMS and MVT.

Learn more

Where is my data stored?

Data security is our top priority, which is why all data is stored on a secure server in Germany in compliance with GDPR regulations.

You can find further information about the data here.

Application & Functionalities

For what purposes do municipalities or planning offices apply GOAT?

GOAT is used for many different planning tasks in urban, transport and environmental planning. Among other things, GOAT is used for the creation of local mobility concepts, public transport planning, cycling infrastructure planning, urban development concepts and retail concepts, or to ensure accessibility to basic services. Besides this, GOAT is used for web mapping and public engagement. The software is typically obtained through a SaaS subscription. However, we also offer reports to address specific planning questions, or conduct the planning tasks for our clients by using GOAT. You can review our references to get some further insights in past applications of GOAT or contact us if you have questions regarding a specific use case.

Is GOAT a transport modelling software?

No, GOAT cannot model trip generation or modal shift. Instead, our analyses are based on the accessibility approach. This enables the implementation of urban planning concepts such as the 'city of short distances' or the '15-minute city.' According to this approach, the most essential facilities should be within close proximity to all city residents. This is the fundamental requirement for choosing active modes of transportation, such as walking and cycling. In addition, good public transportation accessibility is essential to enable longer trips with sustainable modes of transportation. In contrast to transport models that depict traffic flows, our accessibility analyses demonstrate how well the population can potentially reach various destinations (e.g., shopping, education) using sustainable modes of transportation.

Which infrastructural properties are taken into account during routing?

The routing algorithm is a basic function of GOAT that is used to calculate travel times for the catchment areas and heatmaps, among others.

Cycling: We take into account the effects of gradients and surface conditions of the path on the travel speed. We also assume an average delay at intersections.

Walking: Due to low data availability, no infrastructural characteristics are taken into account here by default, except for path availability.

Public transport: Routing is based on GTFS target timetable data and reacts dynamically to the time window selected by the user.

Car: We use travel speeds based on historical speed profiles for cars on working days.

More information on routing can be found here.

Do the analyses stop at territorial boundaries?

No, data for whole Europe (and partly even beyond) is integrated in GOAT. It does calculate across territorial boundaries because the geographic boundary is defined by data.

Can development plans be integrated into GOAT?

Yes, components from the building and land use data (POIs) of development plans can be integrated into GOAT in common geo-vector formats. Through a scenario, for instance, it can be analyzed how well the new population has access to key destinations (e.g., education).

SaaS-Subscription

What is required from us as a customer to obtain GOAT?

We already have the necessary data available throughout Europe, and in some cases beyond. Nothing specific is therefore required from you. If you have specific local data sets that you would like to use in GOAT, you can easily integrate them as well.

Can the analyses also be shared with citizens?

Yes, the results of the analyses can be shared as a web map with external parties, such as the public. Additionally, the results can be exported. In live applications during citizen workshops, GOAT also has significant potential to model proposed measures and dynamically showcase their effects.

How long does the setup take?

You can use GOAT immediately!

Is there a demo version?

Yes, you can register for a 14-day demo version.‍

What does a GOAT subscription cost?

The pricing depends on the functionalities and the number of users. Please contact us and we will be happy to make you a suitable offer. We also offer planning-question-specific report, download a sample report.

Frequently asked questions