---
title: "Setting the Scene – Gaining Insight through Gathering Evidence"
url: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/expert_insights/setting-the-scene-gaining-insight-through-gathering-evidence/"
type: expert_insights
date_published: 2023-05-11
date_modified: 2023-10-09
schema:
  @type: WebPage
language: en-IE
word_count: 535
reading_time: 3 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/expert_insights/setting-the-scene-gaining-insight-through-gathering-evidence/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/liveable-cities-illustration-1.png"
type-insight:
  - Creating Places That Thrive
---

# Setting the Scene – Gaining Insight through Gathering Evidence

![Setting the Scene – Gaining Insight through Gathering Evidence](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/liveable-cities-illustration-1.png)

**In a world unnerved by uncertainties, what’s certain in the transport planning world is that every local transport authority in England has a statutory duty to develop its Local Transport Plan (LTP4) setting out its vision for future transport and travel infrastructure. It’s also not in doubt that since LTP3 – now over 12 years old – the world has changed considerably, making them no longer relevant to meet today’s challenges and opportunities.**

One of those opportunities is ‘data’, which has changed enormously. Today, we
have much potential through utilising the right data sets combined with
introducing new data systems, the ability to have real time analysis, and more
importantly the ability to automate the reporting of a project’s impact. 

All LTPs must tell a story. The art of good story telling is to first set the
scene. That means giving sufficient information to allow the reader (DfT) to
picture the local transport environment clearly. In other words, demonstrate
with evidence (and data) your area, the challenges, and your proposed solutions.
  

At SYSTRA we know all about data – we know about gathering it, as well as
interrogating, analysing and presenting it.

There’s an abundance of data sources out there to give context to your story. We
pulled together the graphic below to highlight the web of data that’s available
at your fingertips today – from population data for age, socio-economic and
housing profiles to air quality, flood risk, and planning applications; then
there’s specific transport data on car ownership and car, bus, rail and cycle
use data. That’s not to mention the swathe of new data that can be derived from
sources including social media to identify transport demand and trends; CCTV
capturing footfall at major trip attractors or events; ridesharing and
micro-mobility use data; and aggregated mobile phone data for ‘origin and
destination’ information.

![setting-the-scene-diagram](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/setting-the-scene-diagram-1024x481.jpg)

Let’s not overstate the obvious on choosing your data wisely, but instead be
sure that the data you choose helps to tell your area’s story. It should begin
by presenting a baseline on transport, accessibility and the environment, which
will then allow you to showcase the challenging but achievable local transport
plan objectives for your area, and the programme for achieving these objectives.
 

The next step is interrogating the data. Asking questions such as:

- _How can the data be used to address specific challenges such as traffic congestion or accessibility?_

- _How can the data be used to engage with stakeholders to ensure that their needs are reflected?_

- _How can the data be used to encourage sustainable travel patterns?_

There are of course practical considerations such as the reliability of the
data, any perceived biases, whether the data can be presented visually, and if
it can easily be integrated with other datasets.

Our team of data analysts work with data sets every day to explain and provide
answers to these types of questions.

Just remember, setting the scene with good use of data will immerse the reader
into your way of thinking.

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