Network Analysis in ArcGIS Pro is a powerful area, and there’s a lot you can do with it: finding shortest routes, closest facilities, service areas, origin-destination matrices, vehicle routing problems, and location-allocation analyses.
Maybe let’s start by narrowing it down a bit — what are you hoping to accomplish with Network Analysis? Here’s a quick overview of the core analyses you can do in ArcGIS Pro:
Common Network Analysis Types in ArcGIS Pro:
| Analysis Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Route | Find the shortest/fastest path between points. |
| Closest Facility | Find the nearest facilities to incidents (or vice versa). |
| Service Area | Determine areas reachable within a given time or distance from a point (like a 5-min drive time). |
| OD Cost Matrix | Compute shortest paths and costs between multiple origins and destinations. |
| Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) | Optimize delivery or service routes for multiple vehicles with constraints. |
| Location-Allocation | Find optimal facility locations based on demand points and network travel costs. |
Basic Workflow for Network Analysis in ArcGIS Pro:
- Have a Network Dataset
- Either use a local Network Dataset (.nd) or an ArcGIS Online network service (with appropriate licensing).
- Create a New Network Analysis Layer
- On the Analysis tab → Network Analysis group → New Analysis, choose your analysis type.
- Add Input Features
- Load stops, facilities, incidents, or barriers depending on your analysis.
- Set Travel Mode & Parameters
- Choose between driving, walking, trucking, etc., and set cost attributes (time, distance).
- Solve the Analysis
- Use the Solve button to perform the analysis and review results.
- Visualize & Export Results
- Examine the routes, service areas, or matrices; optionally export them to feature classes.
