The Motionworks Viewshed Library provides a comprehensive reference for media inventory viewsheds - both Place-based and Roadside advertising displays - that have travel paths measured in Pathcast™ by Date.

What is a Viewshed?

A viewshed, also known as a "display exposure zone", is the geographical area that includes all points from which an advertisement may be seen by traffic or pedestrians. Each viewshed is precisely calculated using geometric modeling that considers:

• Display characteristics: Size, elevation, and orientation
• Environmental context: Place type, area type (urbanicity), and visual obstructions
• Traffic patterns: Direction and mode of all traffic flows
• Viewing geometry: Effective size within field of view and maximum noting distance

The viewshed methodology applies consistently across all media formats - from roadside billboards to place-based digital displays - ensuring accurate opportunity-to-see (OTS) calculations for both vehicular and pedestrian audiences. For comprehensive methodology details, see Viewcast Methodology.

Viewsheds and Path Measurement

Each viewshed serves as the foundation for traffic measurement by defining where movement paths are generated and measured. The Viewshed Library contains the geographic boundaries within which Pathcast™ by Date provides traffic volume data.

Viewsheds are calculated using rigorous geometric principles that ensure accurate visibility zones rather than arbitrary circular radii. This scientific approach provides the spatial framework for measuring traffic exposure across both traditional roadside inventory and modern place-based media networks.

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