The Belgian Federal Planning Bureau has developed a model (PLANET) which models the interaction between the Economy and Transport. The construction of the model started in 2004. A first version became operational in 2008. The model is used to produce:
medium- and long-term projections of transport demand in Belgium, both for passenger and freight transport;
simulations of the effects of transport policy measures;
cost-benefit analyses of transport policy measures.
Description
The model consists of five main modules: MACRO, TRANSPORT, COST, POLICY and WELFARE.
The main aim of the MACRO module is to provide macroeconomic, demographic and sociodemographic projections at the level of the NUTS3 zones for Belgium.
The level and composition of transport demand is provided by the TRANSPORT module according to the following steps:
The generation of transport demand in each Belgian NUTS3 zone.
The distribution of transport originating in each NUTS3 zone among the different NUTS3 zones.
The modal choice and choice of time of day for the journey.
The COST module calculates transport costs. In addition, the module gives information:
on the environmental and accident-related costs of transport;
on net government revenue obtained from transport users and transport producers and
The POLICY module summarizes the transport policies that are analysed in the alternative scenarios.
Finally, the WELFARE module computes the effects of transport policy measures on welfare.
The long-term transport projections in Belgium and the impact analyses of transport policies are realized in collaboration with the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport (www.mobilit.fgov.be).
