1. Converting the North Front Range Model to TransCAD
LSA Associates, Inc.
Colorado Model Users Group Meeting August 2001

3. Agenda Conversion User Interfaces Enhancements Applications
This is a quick introduction to today’s meeting. Explain that we encourage them to ask questions as they come up and that the schedule is flexible.

4. Model Conversion Process
Existing Model
The converted model from Caliper was not ready to go!
The model from Caliper was a basic framework and starting point.
Initial Model Conversion
(Caliper or LSA)
Network Conflation and Model Replication
EVERETT WILL GIVE ME A NEW SLIDE FOR THIS ONE!!
Performance Reporting
Model Enhancements
Calibration / Validation

5. Model Replication Mimic the steps and parameters used in the old model
Gives credibility to the TransCAD model and assures everyone of a sound model
Learn where the greatest need of update/revision is in the model

6. TransCAD Capabilities
Data can be presented in easy to understand visual presentations
Data is easy to verify visually
Land use and TAZ data can be combined to produce socioeconomic data
Interface with other city and county functions
Geocoding data
GIS enables the data to be presented at public meetings easily. This greatly aides the public understanding of the modeling results. GIS makes the data much easier to scrutinize – yielding a much more consistent model.

7. Model User Interface The dialog boxes that run the whole model
Reduce errors by eliminating point/click/type commands
GISDK is the key to programming the model

8. Scenario Manager Created using GISDK
Manages all files related to each alternative
An example of the Mason Street model scenario manager. All input and output files are chosen with this dialog box. It uses typical Windows file open and file save as dialog boxes to find the correct files. Since file names can be named in a logical manner, it is easy to find the correct files.

9. GIS Developer’s Kit (GISDK)
Programmed exactly what we wanted TransCAD to do
Allowed for any method or procedure that was mathematically sound
Full customization of dialog boxes
The Mason Street model script contained 8,500 lines

10. Model Enhancements Surveys / Data Collection Socioeconomic Data
Networks and Pathbuilding
Trip Generation
Trip Distribution
Mode Analysis
Traffic Assignment
Performance Reporting

11. Model Enhancements Improve the model to get better results
Change parameters to better utilize technology advancements (iterations, convergence, etc.)
Incorporate new theories and procedures

12. Survey Data 1999 Vehicle Intercept Survey Postcards Distributed:
Postcards Returned:
Completed Surveys:
61,100
19,600 (32%)
9,300 (15%)
Data: O/D Patterns, Trip Purposes, Auto Occupancies

13. Survey Data 1999 CSU Special Generator Study
Daily Person Trips to/from Main Campus
Bike
Walk
Vehicles
Bus
Other
Total
11,600
18,000
55,000
4,000
1,400
90,000
Data: O/D Patterns, Trip Rates, Time-of-day Factors,
HBUNIV Trip Purpose Specification, Mode Shares

14. 1999 CSU Special Generator Study
Survey Data
1999 CSU Special Generator Study
CSU Main Campus Mode of Travel
Student/Visitor Trips
Employee Trips

15. Survey Data 1999 Transfort Onboard Transit Survey
Fort Collins Transit Trips
Home-Work
Home-School
Home-Shop
Other
16%
66% 4%
14%
Data: Mode Choice Modeling

16. Survey Data 1998 Mobility Report Card Household Survey
1,100 Households surveyed
11,000 Person Trips
All Modes: auto, bus, walk, bike
Data: Trip Rates, Time-of-day Directional Factors,
Diurnal Distributions, Trip Purposes

17. Modeling Process Socioeconomic Data How many trips? Trip Generation
Roadway Network
Trip Distribution
Where will they go?
Speed Feedback
Transit Network
Mode Analysis
What mode?
In TransCAD – show model dialog box
Traffic Assignment
Transit Assignment
What route?
Roadway Volumes
Performance Report
Transit Ridership
Identify needs
Alternatives analysis

18. Networks GIS Networks Transit Routes Traffic Counts Roadway System
Air Quality
Performance
Time of Day Volumes

19. 1998 Roadway Network Conflation to Actual Distances
Local Government Review
Peak (congested) and Off-peak Speeds from Floating Car Survey

20. Socioeconomic Data and TAZ Structure
GIS TAZ Structure
Area based Indexes
Area Type
Performance and Air Quality
Terminal Penalties

21. Socioeconomic Data HOUSEHOLD INCOME 1 2 3 4 5+ TOTAL LOW
Bivariate Distribution Estimated
from Fratar Process Using 1990 Census Data
MEDIUM
From Socio-economic Data
HIGH

22. Trip Generation
Productions Cross-classified by Household Size and Income
New Trip Purposes:
HBW
HBNW – HBUNIV, HBSHOP, HBOTHER
NHB – WBO, OBO
Production Allocation Models: HBUNIV and WBO Trips
Special Generators: Non-HBUNIV Trips for University locations and WBO Trips

23. University Production Allocation
Distance-based algorithm

24. Trip Distribution Standard Gravity Model No K-factors!
Peak and Off-peak Specificity added
Speed Feedback
AM Peak Period  Congested Speeds
Off-Peak  Free-flow Speeds
Friction Factors – calibrated curves versus lookup table

25. 1998 Transit Route Structure
Bus Stop Detail
Bus Speed a function of auto speeds
Sensitive to background network
Version 3.6: only one stop node per route node  circuity

26. Park and Ride Coding

27. Alternative Modes Mode Split Mode Choice
Bike and pedestrian trips – distance based algorithm
Non-Fort Collins transit trips
Mode Choice
Fort Collins transit trips
HBW, HBUNIV – Nested Logit model
Others – Binomial Logit model

28. Nested Logit Structure
Choice
Drive Alone
Shared Ride
Transit
Drive Alone
Shared Ride
Walk Access
Drive Access
Drive Alone
2 Person
3 Person
4+ Person
Local
Premium
Formal Lot
Informal Lot

29. Time of Day Traffic Assignment

30. Supply and Demand Analysis
Difference

31. 1998 Screenline Results

32. 1998 Validation Results

33. Performance Reporting
Provided consistent and convenient summary reports
Created with GISDK
Customized to the needs of Fort Collins
Analysis tool for troubleshooting model runs
Facilitates calibration and validation

34. Summary Reports
The reports are customized using GISDK and summarize the model data in many ways, including…
Facility Type and Area Type
Capacity Analysis
Congestion Delay
Air Quality Emissions Results
Summary reports allow the data to be summarized in the same way for each model run. This gives a great comparison tool between several model runs. You can be assured that the reports are summarizing the data in the exact same way – no place for user error.

35. Air Quality Analysis Link-based emissions
Zone-based emissions (i.e. cold starts, evaporate VOCs, etc.)
Air quality conformity determinations
Redesignation and classification issues
Integration with gridded urban airshed modeling
Integration with Mobile5

36. GIS-Based Emissions Inventories
Link-based emissions
Gridded Overlay for Region
Zone-based emissions

37. Post-Mason Opportunities
More efficient programming resulting in shorter model run times and smaller file sizes
Making the model easier to use
TransCAD 4.0 modeling

38. Development Review Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Traffic Impact Analysis
Directional splits for a proposed development
Impact of a development on a specific intersection

39. Routing and Shortest Path Applications
Football games
Parades
Construction closures
Fleet management (e.g., snowplows)
Hazardous waste
Emergency response

40. Intersection Analysis
Intersection Flow Diagram Volumes from TransCAD
Actual Traffic Counts
NCHRP 255 Process
VISSIM 3D Animation
Synchro Intersection Analysis
SimTraffic 2D Animation
There has always been a concern about getting future intersection levels of service from a link based travel demand forecasting model. We are currently working on a process to expedite getting the intersection levels of service into 3d animation.

41. LSA Associates, Inc. 132 West Mountain Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524
The ending slide