development of the graphical user interface and improvement and streamlining of nymtc's best...
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Development of the Graphical User Interface and Improvement and Streamlining of NYMTC's Best Practice Model
Jim Lam, Andres Rabinowicz, Srini Sundaram, Caliper
Kuo-Ann Chiao, Mohammad Rashid, Ali Mosheni, NYMTC
Bob Donnelly, Surabhi Gupta, PB
TRB Applications Conference, May 18, 2009
Development of the Graphical User Interface and Improvement and Streamlining of NYMTC's Best Practice Model• Improve Usability and Applicability
• Move to the Latest Versions of Model Software (TransCAD)
• Exploit Features of New Model Software Procedures
• Streamline and Optimize Model Code• New Graphic User Interfaces• Adapt to Multiple Hardware Environments• Multi-threading and Distributed Processing• Public, Web-Access to Model Outputs
Background
• BPM is implemented in C programs, GISDK script, other software, and TransCAD modeling software
• BPM requires 2 CPUs and 3-4 gigabytes of RAM
• BPM is deployed on a dated version of TransCAD (4.5, updated to 4.8)
• BPM has long running times• Previous experiments and new
developments suggest massive speedups are possible.
Improving Usability and Applicability
• Lessen hardware requirements for some users
• Create a full-featured User Interface• Scenario and File Management• Automated Reporting and Output
Manager• Create a superfast version for
production
FlowChart GUI
• Easy to View Model Stream• Easy to Use• Easy to Create new Scenarios
Flowchart
Example Snapshots of Interface
Model Run Time Comparisons
Processor: Intel Xeon 4-Core Processor, 3.0GHZ, RAM Memory: 3 GB Hard Drive: ~300GB 10,000 RPM in Raid 0 configurationOS: Windows XP Professional, 32-bitModel: Highway only 3-Loop FeedbackTransCAD 4.5: Current BPM Model run times (on a slower
machine)TransCAD 4.8: Model Run after new GUI interface and
model update to TransCAD version 4.8
TransCAD 5.0: Model run after new flowchart GUI interface,
update to TransCAD version 5.0, and software
and model performance enhancements,before Distributed ProcessingDistributed Assignments saves ~ 1-1.5
extra hours
TransCAD 4.5 TransCAD 4.8 TransCAD 5.0Run Time ~32 hours 11 hrs. 34 min 7 hrs. 15 min
Model Version
Model Run Time Comparisons
Model Run Time Comparisons for 1 Loop5.0 Times 4.8 Times Savings Percent
Step Time (minutes) Time (minutes) Time (minutes)Loop 1HAJ Inputs 3.93 3.93 0 0%HAJ 3.18 2.82 -0.36 -13%MDC 96.06 153 56.94 37%Forecast External Trips 0.02 0.02 0 0%Forecast Impedance 0.45 n/a n/a n/aForecast Truck Trips 2.16 18.62 16.46 88%Forecast Van Trips 1.08 4.95 3.87 78%PAP 5.23 12.87 7.64 59%External Replace 0.11 n/a n/a n/aAssignment and Skims 24.97 27.5 2.53 9%Total 137.19 223.71 87.08 39%
Software and Model Enhancements
• Faster Procedures• Multithreading• Code Optimization• Minimization of Inputs and Outputs• Potential for even more performance
enhancements with 64-bit TransCAD– More available memory– Better multithreading with I7 processor
and Vista– Some processes (i.e. matrix processing)
much, much faster
Automated Reports and Graphics
Automated Reports and Graphics
Automated Reports and Graphics
Interactive Reports
• Link reports of flows, congestion, speeds, etc.
• TAZ/Demographic reports• Network reports (Origin-to-
destination paths and travel time diagrams)
Dynamic Web Application
• Provide Key Input Data and Model Output to the Public
• Datasets and starter maps created by interactive reports
• Interactive Queries & Reports• Custom Map graphics
Example Snapshots of Web Browser
Ongoing Work
• Integration of newest BPM version into interface
• Inclusion of transit portions of model– Development of newer more accurate
NYCTA transit networks– Development of better methods of
access/egress/transfer links– Development of better transit assignment
(e.g. equilibrium pathfinder) methods– Handling of route/platform/parking
capacities