This presentation was presented to the UC ITE Student Chapter on Feb 25, 2010

1. An Introduction to Regional Transportation Modeling with Cube Voyager Andrew Rohne Travel Modeling Department Manager OKI Regional Council of Governments February 25, 2010

2. What we’re going to talk about Context Overview Considerations When Building a Model The OKI Model

3. Context Regional Passenger Modeling Not Microsimulation Not Dynamic Traffic Simulation (“Macroscopic”)(although that can be part of it) VISUM, TransCAD, EMME, TranPlan, TP+,Minutp, Trips, Transims Primarily used for long range traffic forecasting

4. Context Voyager is part of a larger suite of products Voyager ~ Passenger Modeling Cargo ~ Freight Modeling Land ~ Land Use Modeling Dynasim ~ Microsimulation Cube Base ties all together

5. Context Works with other solutions Analyst ~ Matrix Estimation Avenue ~ Dynamic Traffic Simulation Cluster ~ Clustering software Mint ~ Cloud-based modeling Sugar ~ GIS Components for ArcGIS

6. Overview

7. The Interface – Application Screen

8. The Interface – Network Window “Stick Network”

9. The Interface – Network Window True Shape Display

10. The Interface – Network Window True Shape Display

11. The Interface – Transit Lines

12. GIS Environment

13. GIS Environment – Transit Lines

14. Desire Lines

15. Path Traces

16. The Interface – Matrix Window

17. The Interface – Matrix Window

18. Programming Environment “Building Block” Programming Environment Breaks up programs Link input and output files via drag & drop Open Programming Interface (like an IDE) Extensible

19. Building Block Environment

20. Building Block Environment Voyager

21. Building Block Environment TP+

22. Building Block Environment Tranplan

23. Open Programming

24. Programming RUN PGM=?? Starts all scripts Matrix Generation Etc. ENDRUN

25. Programming FILEI (file input) and FILEO (file output) FILEI MATI[1]=“pathatrix.mat” FILEO MATO[1]=“pathutmtx.mat” MO=1-2 PRINTO NETI – NETO LINKI – LINKO, NODEI – NODEO RECI – RECO, PAO Etc…

26. Programming Most scripts have a PROCESS PHASE=… Exception: Matrix (implied ILOOP/Record Loop) Ex: PROCESS PHASE=LINKREAD Sometimes more than one Generation: ILOOP and ADJUST Network: INPUT and LINKMERGE PT: DATAPREP, SKIMIJ Highway: LINKREAD, ADJUST

27. Programming Referencing Inputs: MI.f.t (Matrix File #f, Table #t) / MW[x]+MO=x ZI.f.field(ZData Input) RI.f.fieldand RO.field DBI.1.NUMRECORDS, DI.1.field PRINT PRINTO=? LIST=‘print this’

28. Programming Most common controls If/else Loop, JLOOP Math and Character functions Arrays Not all Select case

29. Extending Has to be able to run from a command line! Python Biogeme R

30. Considerations whenBuilding a Model

31. Use Groups!

32. Seriously, Use Groups!

33. Groups Use groups to organize model Keep logical steps together All transit network processing together Easy to replace and upgrade Deal with changing data availability Replace old techniques with new Deal with changing region

34. Loops - Feedback

35. Cluster (Multistep)

36. Cluster (Intrastep) *Bonus Tip: Use comments!

37. Cluster Important for dual and quad core computers Core 2 Duo Core 2 Quad Each processor runs 1 Voyager process Timeline What are the processors doing? What is the model doing? What steps need what data?

38. Cluster Use multistep where you can’t use intrastep Record processing Distribution Fratar Use intrastep when you can Matrix Processing Highway Assignment Watch mixing intrastep and multistep

39. Cluster I=1 vs. I=FirstZone I=1 great for reporting I=FirstZone a must for calculating variables (etc) I=ZONES vs. I=LastZone Watch ‘=‘ vs. ‘>=‘… or ‘!=‘ IF(I={CVG_ZONE}) probably okay IF(I=10) usually not okay

40. Branches

41. Pilot Blocks IF() and ENDIF blocks Control running, similar to branch example READ FILE=“somefile.txt” Reads variables into model from external file Reference as @VAR@

42. External Programs PILOT step can run any external command *DOTHIS.BAT (runs DOS batch file) *DEL tempfile.mat (runs DOS delete command) Python, R, and Biogeme are batch scripts Cube calls DOS batch script and passes inputs as arguments

43. The OKI Model

44. The OKI Model Includes both Cincinnati and Dayton 2,531 zones 2,425 internal 1,608 OKI 817 MVRPC 106 external 11 counties 3 states

45. The OKI Model Complex 4-step model HH synthesizer 4 Transit Modes including commuter rail Truck Model Feedback loop (Distribution and Mode Choice) Detailed Nested Logit Mode Choice 4 period assignment Kings Island and CVG Models

46. The OKI Model Takes 4-12 hours to run Feedback Loops Network Complexity Starts at ~30 MB Ends at ~3 GB

47. The OKI Model 2005 Validation Preparing for 2010 1995 HHTS and TOBS Traffic Counts from 1996-2006 Moving to 2009-2011 HHTS Currently underway TOBS in fall

48. Main Model

49. Initial Steps

50. Initial Steps Trip Generation Truck Trip Generation Initial Peak Period Network, Transit, Dist, and Mode Choice Off-Peak Network, Transit, Dist, and Mode Choice Initial AM Assignment

51. Feedback Loop

52. Feedback Loop Peak Period only Network and Transit Processing Distribution Mode Choice AM Assignment No Generation, Truck Processing

53. Final Steps

54. Final Steps MD, PM, and NT Assignment Transit Assignment Post Processing Emissions Processing EJ Impacts Congestion Costs Prep for Cost-Benefit Analysis Reporting

55. Final Thoughts

56. Don’t Be A Fool… Use The Right Tool. -Poster at an auto repair shop

57. Data Considerations Data is changing No more Census Long Form (replaced by ACS) Cell phone data/Bluetooth data/GPS data Confidentiality Detail Society Changes (cell-phone only HHs, Internet) What can you get now? What can you forecast?

58. Yogi Berra “If you don't know where you're going, you might not get there.” “Little things are big.” (esp. in MC and Dist!) “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Source: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Yogi_Berra

59. Resources TMIP: http://tmip.fhwa.dot.gov/ TMIP-L List NEWSTARTSFORECASTING List TRANSIMS-L List Webinars (recorded, sign-up for live – TMIP-L) Technical Synthesis Papers Peer Review Results Document Clearinghouse

60. Resources Ohio Travel Model User Group Meetings www.otdmug.org KY Travel Model User Group Meetings http://transportation.ky.gov/planning/traffic/MUG.asp CTPP and CTPP Listserv http://www.trbcensus.com/ (Internet Mailing List)

61. TRB + Standing Committees TRB Annual Meeting (DC – Every Jan) Innovations in Travel Modeling (Tempe – May) http://www.trb-forecasting.org/ Applications Conference (Reno – 2011) http://www.trb-appcon.org/ Travel Survey Methods http://www.travelsurveymethods.org/

62. More Information Andrew Rohne arohne@oki.org @okiandrew Citilabs www.citilabs.com Citilabs User Group Citilabs Yahoo Group Summer of Cube