Starting Network Analysis > Common Analysis Parameters

Cost Type

Cost type determines the base in analysis. Users can choose to solve the shortest path between two points using shortest distance or quickest time. Shortest distance might not be the quickest way to reach the destination, if the traffic jams, terrible road quality or traffic controls occur. Thus, it is better for users to choose to drive on freeway instead of Shortest Distance; even the freeway might be twice the distance of Shortest Distance, it is possible a better choice since users might therefore save 20 minutes. See the figure below, if we drive from A to C, it takes 3 hours; but if we drive from A to B and take a flight from B to C, it takes only 1 hour.