> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.arterial.design/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Precedence Analysis

> Learn to quickly analyze planning rationales and development applications

In Arterial, legislative analysis depends on both [Policy](/essentials/policies) and [Entitlements](/essentials/entitlements).

Entitlements allow us to understand how legislation might be changed depending on planning precedents in the area—for each city on Arterial, we have a comprehensive set of tracking systems for development applications streamed directly from cities.

Arterial's datasets combine the public-facing development information with the underlying policy and documentation submitted to City Hall—allowing us to analyze applications in the same way a planner would.

## Quickstart

Precedents can either be automatically generated from an entitlement simulation (see [Entitlement Analysis](/essentials/entitlements)) or manually searched for in a Dataset view (either in a project or in [Explore Mode](/workflows/parcel-search)).

Each city has its own set of development application and permitting datasets that can be searched through—you can select one from the **Precedence** section of the dataset selector.

In the top-right corner of the map, you'll be able to search on applications using the <Icon icon="search" color="#FFF" /> **Search Precedents** button. This will open a modal with a prompt for a set of clauses to filter the rendered applications by.

After searching for a set fo applications and precedents, you can save your search using the <Icon icon="save" color="#FFF" /> **Save Precedence Search** button in the map toolbar. You'll be able to access this search later in the <Icon icon="house-plus" color="#FFF" /> **Precedences** tab in the sidebar.

<Frame caption="Precedences can be generated from the entitlements bar.">
  <iframe src="https://player.mux.com/THWyHSAwbmzivmmFaYud007r4tS1lDq1RWtEDne021GNU?accent-color=%239c9586&muted=true&voluem=0" allow="accelerometer; gyroscope; autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture;" allowfullscreen className="w-full aspect-video" />
</Frame>

## Analyzing Precedents

### Planning Rationales

Most development applications will contain legal information encoded in *Planning Rationales*—the arguments developers make to justify their project to the city.

Arterial tracks these under the *Planning Rationale* key within developmen datasets, and are composed of:

* **Policy References**: the collection of policies that are attempting to be adjusted
* **Arguments**: the page-by-page arguments based on specific clauses in legislation
* **Site Context**: the arguments based on site and building context

### Interpretation

Arterial can also combine information across keys and in specific ones to provide a comprehensive interpretation of what a particular rationale means.

In a Dataset view, you can click on the <Icon icon="sparkles" color="#FFF" /> **Interpret** button to generate a short summary of a single rationale:

In Precedence views, you can run ultiple interpretations at once by clicking on each application's checkbox and then clicking the <Icon icon="sparkles" color="#FFF" /> **Interpret** button in the toolbar.

### Project Data Sheets

Arterial also tracks the actual data sheets and architectural plans submitted as part of applications; these are available in the **Project Data Sheets** key (and are exportable - see [Exporting & Sharing](/workflows/exporting)).