What is a suitable format for vector data required for a drive-time analysis?

A geodatabase feature class is a suitable format for vector data required for a drive-time analysis because it provides a structured way to store spatial data, including points, lines, and polygons. In the context of drive-time analysis, this type of data typically includes road networks, which are represented as line features.

Feature classes stored within a geodatabase can store additional attributes, making it easier to perform complex spatial queries and analyses such as calculating drive times. They also support topological relationships and are optimized for handling spatial data along with associated metadata, which are crucial for accurate analysis.

Other formats, like a map service, generally deliver visual representations of spatial data but do not provide the underlying data structure needed for analysis. Although raster datasets can represent surfaces and some types of spatial data, they do not handle vector capabilities such as road networks efficiently. Mosaic datasets serve to manage collections of raster datasets and do not contain vector data, which is necessary for drive-time analysis. Thus, the geodatabase feature class is the most suitable choice for this purpose.