STEP is a software application that has been developed by Transport Scotland to enable the derivation of population, employment, households by car ownership, trip ends and growth factors based on data from the National Transport, Demand and Land Use Models.

In producing forecasts based on the National Transport models, this gives STEP an advantage over similar tools as it incorporates 'Scotland specific' data. Furthermore, STEP also includes a better representation of base year trip ends as they have been calibrated to reflect observed data across Scotland during the development of the National Models.

STEP has been prepared for transport planning purposes. Specific uses could include informing on policy decisions, obtaining indicators on predicted changes in transport use over time, an indication of modelled trip ends and growth rates to assist in the development and forecasting of other regional and local transport and demand models.

It should be noted that forecasts such as those prepared by Transport and Land Use models are always subject to uncertainty. For guidance on how to manage uncertainty in transport forecasts, please see WebTAG Unit 3.15.5: Uncertainty in Forecasting.

If you would like more information or have any queries regarding STEP, please email us at LATIS@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk.

To read the terms and conditions and register to use STEP, please click here.

If you have already registered please login.