2.2 Software Requirements - Revision history

Bpaul at 01:03, 10 March 2023

2023-03-10T01:03:26Z

Bpaul at 00:50, 10 March 2023

2023-03-10T00:50:05Z

Bpaul at 00:36, 10 March 2023

2023-03-10T00:36:12Z

Bpaul at 00:29, 10 March 2023

2023-03-10T00:29:28Z

Bpaul at 00:27, 10 March 2023

2023-03-10T00:27:59Z

Bpaul at 00:27, 10 March 2023

2023-03-10T00:27:20Z

Bstabler: Updated to NERPMAB2

2020-11-09T13:18:47Z

Updated to NERPMAB2

Bstabler at 19:17, 25 August 2020

2020-08-25T19:17:02Z

Gwineman at 20:34, 17 October 2016

2016-10-17T20:34:14Z

Gwineman at 20:32, 17 October 2016

2016-10-17T20:32:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:03, 10 March 2023
Line 30:		Line 30:

	While the software platform has changed from previous versions of NERPM-AB, much of the overall model structure has remained the same.		While the software platform has changed from previous versions of NERPM-AB, much of the overall model structure has remained the same.
		+
		+	<h2>Python</h2>
		+
		+	<h3>Overview</h3>
		+
		+	Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built-in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components together.
		+
		+	Python is developed under an OSI-approved open-source license, making it freely usable and distributable, even for commercial use. More information on Python can be found at: https://www.python.org/.
		+
		+	<h3>Role in the Model System</h3>
		+
		+	Python scripts are used to perform various data processing tasks, control input/output, and execute different model components in NERPM-AB. These scripts are run from within Visum's procedure sequence and make extensive use of Visum's Python API to access network and data elements.
		+
		+	<h3>Installation</h3>
		+
		+	The user does not need to install Python. All Python scripts use the Python distribution that comes with the PTV Visum install and do not require any additional package installation. Any of the tools requiring Python use their own custom installation included in the model package.
		+

	<h2>DaySim</h2>		<h2>DaySim</h2>

@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 <h3>Installation</h3>
-PopulationSim required 64-bit Anaconda (Python 2). No complex installation of the Anaconda software is required. Anaconda simply resides in \User.prg\Population_Synthesis\Anaconda2 within the NFTPO model directory structure. Anaconda is an open-source distribution of Python which bundles the most useful python libraries together for making it easy for the users.
+The PopulationSim version used in NERPM-AB requires a 64-bit Anaconda (Python 2). No complex installation of the Anaconda software is required. The model package includes a full install of Anaconda in the \tools\Population_Synthesis\Anaconda2 subdirectory. Anaconda is an open-source distribution of Python which bundles the most useful python libraries together for making it easy for users.
-The developers of PopulationSim have created a detailed stand-alone wiki which provides clear instructions, steps and visual cues to walk a new user through the installation or update of both the supplementary software and PopulationSim. The wiki also describes how to use the software, how to validate model results and also describes how PopulationSim works in detail.
+The developers of PopulationSim have created a detailed stand-alone wiki that provides clear instructions, steps, and visual cues to walk a new user through the installation or update of both the supplementary software and PopulationSim. The wiki also describes how to use the software, how to validate model results, and also describes how PopulationSim works in detail.

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 <h3>Installation</h3>
-No complex installation of the DaySim software is required. DaySim simply resides as a single compiled executable within the NFTPO model directory structure. The compiled executable (DaySim.exe) can be found in the \User.prg\DaySim subdirectory.
+No complex installation of the DaySim software is required. DaySim simply resides as a single compiled executable within the NFTPO model directory structure. The compiled executable (DaySim.exe) can be found in the \tools\DaySim subdirectory.
 <h2>R</h2>
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 R is not actively used in this model. R is supplied with the model to generate DaySim summaries for calibration and validation.
-Once DaySim is run and day patterns of all the persons in the model system have been simulated, R-scripts are also used to prepare summaries of various sub-models outputs such as auto ownership, tour/trip modes and times, etc. Summary tables are written out to Excel spreadsheets that are subsequently used calibration and validation of the AB demand model.
+Once DaySim is run and day patterns of all the persons in the model system have been simulated, R-scripts are also used to prepare summaries of various sub-models outputs such as auto ownership, tour/trip modes and times, etc. Summary tables are written out to Excel spreadsheets that are subsequently used for calibration and validation of the AB demand model.
 <h3>Installation</h3>
-No complex installation of the R software is required. R simply resides as a single compiled executable within the NFTPO model directory structure. The R application can be found in the \R-3.4.4 subdirectory.
+No complex installation of the R software is required. A custom installation of R is provided within the NFTPO model directory structure. The R installation can be found in the \tools\R-3.4.4 subdirectory. Some libraries in the R installation require Java to run some functions. A custom installation of Java Development Kit (JDK) is also provided within the model package. The JDK installation can be found in the \tools\jdk-17.0.2 subdirectory
 <h2>PopulationSim</h2>

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 The PTV Visum-based NERPMAB v2.2 model retains the model components from the previous framework and revamps the model flow and integration using advanced features in Visum. The new Visum-based NERPM-AB has been designed as an integrated system with Visum serving as the one-stop shop for all modeling tasks.
-Role in the Model System
+<h3>Role in the Model System</h3>
 PTV Visum serves the following important functions in the NERPM-AB model system:

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 #It serves as the Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the entire model. The software is used to view, edit, and execute the procedure sequence which runs the model steps sequentially in the prescribed sequence. The procedure sequence steps interface with other model components such as PopulationSim, DaySim, DaySim Data Tools, etc. using the Python API, and executes them using stored configuration settings and input data.
 #It provides a centralized network and data management system streamlining the network editing and data update workflows.
 #The software serves as a Scenario Manager by enabling users to select a model year, modify network elements and land use data, and configure various model properties to design custom scenarios.
 # All DaySim outputs are imported back into Visum allowing the users to view and analyze disaggregate demand data along with the supply data.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 <h1>Operating System</h1>
-The model system components are currently configured to run under a variety of Windows versions, including Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 and more recent updates.
+The model system components are currently configured to run under a variety of Windows versions, including Windows Server 2022 and Windows 11 and more recent updates. The model package includes the necessary software installations and applications required to run all components of NERPM-AB. The various software component of NERPM-AB are described below:
-<h2>Cube Voyager</h2>
+<h2>PTV Visum</h2>
 <h3>Overview</h3>
-Cube Voyager is a commercially available software package developed by Citilabs, Inc. for the modeling and analysis of regional passenger transportation systems including roadways, public transit, pedestrians and bicycles. Cube Voyager uses a modular and script-based structure allowing the incorporation of any model methodology ranging from standard four-step models, to discrete choice to activity-based approaches. The software also includes highly flexible network and matrix calculators for the calculation of travel demand and for the detailed comparison of scenarios.
+PTV Visum is the world's leading transportation planning software developed by PTV Group. It is the standard for macroscopic simulations and macroscopic modeling of transportation networks and transportation demand, public transportation planning, active modes, and the development of transportation strategies and solutions. PTV Visum is designed for multimodal analysis and integrates supply and demand data into one consistent integrated data model. PTV Visum provides a variety of assignment procedures, inbuilt procedures, and a powerful Python API to implement any modeling approaches ranging from standard four-step models to tour-based and activity-based approaches. PTV Visum also has a fully integrated network editor and matrix calculation procedures. The Visum network includes ABM network objects which enable processing and graphical analysis of ABM outputs.
-Models built with Cube Voyager can take many forms:
+Models built with PTV Visum can take many forms:
-*Four-step models commonly used in urban areas: Cube Voyager includes easy-to-use templates for developing generation, distribution, mode choice and assignment structures
+*Four-step models commonly used in urban areas: PTV Visum includes easy-to-use Graphical User Interface for developing generation, distribution, mode choice, and assignments.
-*Activity-based demand: Cube Voyager provides the flexibility to incorporate most of these techniques. It is simple to incorporate specifically designed modules for the analysis and estimation of activity patterns. (eg. the NERPM-AB model system)
+*Tour-based models: PTV Visum includes inbuilt procedures to develop aggregate or disaggregate tour-based models.
-*Combined equilibrium models: Cube Voyager provides a complete scripting and equilibrium feedback language allowing models of this form to be implemented.
+*Activity-based demand: PTV Visum provides data structures and procedures for supporting Activity-based demand models, as well as graphical displays.
-Past regional travel model systems employed in the region have relied on and made use of the Cube Voyager software. In the new NERPM-AB model many elements of that previous framework are retained since the software and data structures used to represent the supply-side component of the overall model system are unchanged.
+The PTV Visum-based NERPMAB v2.2 model retains the model components from the previous framework and revamps the model flow and integration using advanced features in Visum. The new Visum-based NERPM-AB has been designed as an integrated system with Visum serving as the one-stop shop for all modeling tasks.
 Role in the Model System
-Cube Voyager serves three (3) important functions in the NERPM-AB model system.
+PTV Visum serves the following important functions in the NERPM-AB model system:
-#The software is used to open, view and execute the Cube model catalog file (NERPMAB2.cat) and therefore represents the graphical user interface (GUI) for the entire regional travel model.
+#It serves as the Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the entire model. The software is used to view, edit, and execute the procedure sequence which runs the model steps sequentially in the prescribed sequence. The procedure sequence steps interface with other model components such as PopulationSim, DaySim, DaySim Data Tools, etc. using the Python API, and executes them using stored configuration settings and input data.
-FDOT has relied on Cube Voyager for previous regional planning models and so these concepts and this regional planning and forecasting software should be familiar to most end-users already practicing in the region.
+#It provides a centralized network and data management system streamlining the network editing and data update workflows.
 <h2>DaySim</h2>

@@ Line 117: / Line 117: @@
   [[File:Figure 2-11.png]]
-<h2>PopGen</h2>
+<h2>PopulationSim</h2>
 <h3>Overview</h3>
-PopGen (Population Generator) is a Python-based tool for population synthesis which includes an easy-to-use and flexible graphical user interface (GUI). It was originally developed by researchers at the Arizona State University (ASU) and has been made available through open-source licensing arrangements with a view to foster further research and development in population synthesis. The tool is implements a new heuristic algorithm that is capable of generating synthetic populations while controlling and matching both household-level and person-level attribute distributions. More information on PopGen can be found at the ASU SimTRAVEL Research Initiative at: http://urbanmodel.asu.edu/popgen.html
+PopulationSim is an open platform for population synthesis and survey weighting. It is a Python-based tool for population synthesis which includes an easy-to-use interface. More information on PopulationSim can be found at the ActivitySim website: https://activitysim.github.io/populationsim/index.html
 <h3>Role in the Model System</h3>
-Generation of a regional synthetic population is a preliminary step of any AB model.  PopGen generates a synthetic population by drawing households from a Public Use Micro-Sample (PUMS) sample to match a supplied traffic analysis zone (TAZ) level joint distribution of household and person characteristics using iterative proportional fitting and other innovative techniques.  These TAZ-level households are then allocated to parcels for use in the region. The AB demand model (DaySim, in this case) simulated daily activity patterns for all persons in the households of synthetic population.
+Activity Based Models (ABMs) operate in a micro-simulation framework, wherein the travel choices of person and household decision-making agents are predicted by applying Monte Carlo methods to behavioral models. This requires a data set of households and persons representing the entire population in the modeling region. Population synthesis refers to the process used to create this data.
 <h3>Installation</h3>
-PopGen requires the installation of a number of supplementary software in addition to Python. The list below represents the list of software programs which need to be installed prior to installing the PopGen (v1.1). Each supplementary software has its own installation wizard(s) that will take the user through the various installation steps. Many of these installation wizards are very simple and quite similar. It should be noted the versions of the software listed below are not the latest. However, these versions are known to work together the best.
+PopulationSim required 64-bit Anaconda (Python 3). Anaconda is an open-source distribution of Python which bundles the most useful python libraries together for making it easy for the users. Anaconda installs almost all necessary data science libraries with it, not requiring the user to install each library separately. The Anaconda installation process is easy and described in the PopulationSim wiki step by step here - https://activitysim.github.io/populationsim/getting_started.html
-*Python 2.5.4 for Windows
+The developers of PopulationSim have created a detailed stand-alone wiki which provides clear instructions, steps and visual cues to walk a new user through the installation of both the supplementary software and PopulationSim. The wiki also describes how to use the software, how to validate model results and also describes how PopulationSim works in detail.