Background research information sources:

Greater Vancouver Regional District website: www.gvrd.bc.ca

Translink website: www.translink.bc.ca

Data sources:

DA (Dissemination area) census information

Source: University of Toronto online census data

I downloaded the population data from this source and convert it into the ArcGIS database.  In ArcGIS, I used this data to calculate the population density in each of the dissemination area.  After finished preparing the data in ArcGIS, I imported the finished map of the population density into IDRISI and then converted the vector polygons into raster for analysis purposes (Fig 1).  The density is measured in people per square meter.

DA (Dissemination Area) polygon

Source: SIS lab data folder

The DA polygon is used to create the map of population density for the City of Vancouver.  The map was created in ArcGIS and later imported into IDRISI and converted to raster format for the purpose of the analysis.

Translink transit lines data (buses, peak hour buses, skytrain route)

Source: SIS lab data folder

Website: www.translink.bc.ca

The bus routes, peak hour bus routes, and the skytrain route data is first prepared in ArcGIS and then imported to IDRISI.  All the vector lines are then converted to raster.

Translink transit data (B-line buses, bus exchange, skytrain stations)

Source: Translink website

Website: www.translink.bc.ca

Because the B-line bus routes, the locations of bus exchange and skytrain stations are not available anywhere, I digitized these data in ArcGIS first and then converted to IDRISI.  (see Figure 2 on the right menu).  All the vector points and lines are then converted into raster.

Low density residential areas and parks polygons.

Source: SIS lab data folder

These low density areas and parks polygons are selected from the landuse polygons of Vancouver in ArcGIS first and then imported to IDRISI.  Again, the  vector landuse polygons are converted to raster.