Cube Update

presented to

Florida Model Task Force

presented by

Michael Clarke and Matthew Martimo

November 9, 2009

New Features of Cube Base

• Available

• Integrated ESRI spatial functions within the model work stream (Buffer, Union, Intersect…)

• Full support of ESRI-supported data formats including Bing Maps

• Python Scripts as part of the Modeling Flow

• Previously Released

• Cube GIS Window− GIS-based network

− Direct sharing of data between ESRI products and Cube

− Work environment is similar to ArcGIS

− On-the-fly projection

• Wizard for adding user programs

• Multiple model applier types

New Features in Cube 5

Cube GIS

Based on ArcObjects from ArcGIS Engine

Provides enhanced GIS capabilities to Cube users

Stores data in geodatabase format

• 5.0- Personal geodatabase (MDB)

• 5.1- File-based (GDB) and SDE personal and enterprise geodatabases (mySQL, SQL, Oracle …)

Provides geo-processing functions based on ESRI Technology

New Features in Cube 5

Cube GIS Window High-Quality Mapping Using ESRI MXD Files

Our Products: Cube

Major New Features of Cube VoyagerAvailable in 5.1:

Geodatabase Read/Write updated for File-based (GDB) and SDE personal and enterprise geodatabases (mySQL, SQL, Oracle …)

Multi-Dimensional Arrays

New methods of highway assignment

• Conjugate and Bi-Conjugate Frank-Wolfe

• Gradient Projection

• Stochastic

Previously Released

Geodatabase Read/Write – personal geodatabase (MDB)

PT select link

PT ‘mustusemode’ and ‘bestpathonly’ for FTA “New Starts” Analysis

New Features of Cube Voyager

Convergence of Traffic Assignments: How Much is Enough?

Tampa Bay Model defaults to Relative Gap of 0.01

SERPM Model defaults yield a Relative Gap of 0.005

“A Relative Gap of 0.0001 is required to assure that the assignment is sufficiently converged to achieve stable link flows.” (Boyce, et al., 2004)

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Link Variance Example

Relative Gap = 0.005 (SERPM Default) Relative Gap = 0.001 Relative Gap =0.0005 Relative Gap = 0.0001

Chicago Sketch Network: 387 zones

Capacity on link 492-493 reduced by

half (6500 to 3250)

Research into new methodsExisting: Frank-Wolfe Algorithm

Bi-Conjugate Assignment

Good Features – Provides all the Capabilities Available Today

• Consistent with the existing practice including the Full functionality provided by the traditional FW assignment

• Multiple user classes, Turning penalties, Junction Modeling

• Select link and/or zone analysis

• Distributed computing, Etc.

• Maintains ‘proportionality’

No need to modify anything (network, input data etc.)

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Path-based Assignment Algorithms

Feasibility

• The memory restriction for tracking the paths has been relaxed considerably in recent years due to rapid advances in computing environment

Advantages

• Fastest convergence to high accuracy

• Unique Link Flow Solution

Disadvantages

• Does not maintain proportionality assumptions

• Select Link, Select Zone not applicable

• Turning Movements are not correct

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Proportionality

Regardless of the original origin and final destination, the flows over any selected set of paired segments should be consistently proportional.

Critical, if you need to analyze who uses facilities – their origins and destinations (select link) or which zones contribute to the flow (select zone).

Link-based methods are proportional.

Origin and Path-based methods are NOT (OBA, Algorithm B, TAPAS…).

Link flows and speeds are the same in both.

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Proportionality by Algorithm Type

12 Taken from “Practical Implications of Finding Consistent Route Flows” by Hillel Bar-Gera, et al.

Scripting the New Assignment Algorithms

Conjugate and Bi-Conjugate

Parameters Combine = EQUI, Enhance = #

• Enhance keyword options− Frank Wolf: Enhance=0

− Conjugate: Enhance=1

− Bi-Conjugate: Enhance=2

Path-Based Equilibrium – Select Link/Zone Disabled

Parameters Combine=PATH

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New Empirical Studies

Computing Platform

• 64 bit Intel Platform with Vista 64

• Two Xeon E5335 2GHz Quad Core Processors

• 8GB of RAM

Chicago Regional Network

• 1790 Zones

• 12982 Nodes

• 39018 Links

• 1360427.88 Total OD Flow

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*The Origin-based Algorithm (OBA) adopted here is from Hillel Bar-Gerahttp://www.openchannelsoftware.org/projects/Origin-Based_Assignment

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SERPM 24 Hr Assignment Results

New Features Available in Cube Avenue (5.1)

Packet allocation

Incremental time-segments allows early time segments to converge before simulating later time segments (100 Iter. to 20 Iter.)

Simulation Pause and Restart

These new features greatly reduce run-time and memory consumption

New Features of Cube Avenue

New Activity Model Application

•Script of full-activity model within Cube Voyager

•Based on methodology of Sacramento and SF County

•Developed by Mark Bradley, Ken Vaughn and Victor Siu

•Used directly for small and mid-sized urban areas •Increase segmentation in larger areas

•Will be posted on the user-group web-site for download this winter

Key Methodologies in Cube

Cube Land integrated transport-land use modeling

Innovation in land use pricing—via auction/bidding theory

Evaluate impact of land use change on transport system and transport system change on land use

Integrates directly with Cube Voyager

Forecasts land rent/prices to better evaluate development pressures

Forecasts households by type and employment by type by TAZ

Key technologies in the ‘Labs

Moving to Enterprise‘Beyond Cube 5’

What is Enterprise?

• Data stored in an ESRI-compliant geo-database format

• Uses market leading databases: Oracle…etc.

• Able to store and manage huge amounts of data

• Cube portion of the database has transportation-specific ‘rules’ (topology rules) using Citilabs data model

Moving to Enterprise

Why Enterprise?

• Common data storage center:

• You contribute your model results to the enterprise geodatabase

• Others contribute their data to the enterprise geodatabase

• Use data directly in the models from the database

• Incorporate model results with other governmental systems (permitting…)

• Take advantage of ‘future data’ in the models more easily: GPS data…

Moving to Enterprise

Cube - Desktop Professional Modeling

a comprehensive suite for passenger, freight, land use, and traffic simulation

Mint - Modeling on the Internet

web-based modeling platform for collaborative planning

Sugar - Modeling Extensions for ArcGIS

modeling and analysis tools for non-modelers

 

Access modeling data from three portals

Our Products

Why move modeling to the internet?

Development Application Analysis

TodayToday DesktopDesktop Desktop

InternetInternet InternetInternet InternetInternetTomorrowTomorrow

PrioritiesPriorities 3 1 2

ElementsElements Network development Demographics Edit scripts Re-organize Add features Entire models

Cloud-computing environment - no local high speed machines - unlimited resources - no software licensing; move to a software-as-a-service monthly subscription Shared access to the models Collaborative application - local agencies - federal agencies - consultants

Provide access for non-modelers Become a ‘transportation info. system’ Use the results ‘themselves’ User friendly environment for - analysis and comparisons - mapping and charting• Ability to publish the results to ‘everyone’

PhasesPhases

Assign Clients with RightsAssign Clients with Rights

MPO/County ModelerConsultants

MPO/County ModelerConsultants

MPO/County PlannersPartner agencies

Consultants

MPO/County PlannersPartner agencies

Consultants

MPO DirectorInterest GroupsGeneral Public

MPO DirectorInterest GroupsGeneral Public

Primary Benefits• Internet: movement from a desktop-bound, ‘locked’ environment to an internet-

based, ‘open’, sharable, ‘work from anywhere/anytime’ environment

• Community Resource: model application and planning analysis done by non-experts using common web-browsers moving models to an active role in collaborative transportation planning

• Cloud-Computing: placement of the models, data and software in a cloud-computing environment lowering hardware costs locally while providing ‘unlimited’ high-spec resources

• Lower costs for the user: movement from locally licensed desktops to a software as a service model. Monthly subscription business model allowing many to use the model at low, or even, no cost

• Lessens IT complexity: much of the IT burden of modeling is shifted from the user to the vendor

• Data and Software Integration: easier to integrate with external systems: development reviews, regional air quality analysis, pavement maintenance systems, traffic and transit ITS systems and to receive and use data from data probes, detectors and static data sources

Areas in Beta Test

Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose

Houston, Texas MPO

Minneapolis, Minnesota MPO

Cincinnati, Ohio MPO

City of Leesburg, Virginia

Christchurch, New Zealand

Brisbane, Australia

Manila, Philippines

Dutch Government regional models

VTA Home Page

Our Products: Sugar

Available Now

Available Q1 2010

In Development

Sugar: Modeling Extensions for ArcGIS

Sugar Example: Sugar Network Editor

Our Products: Sugar

Sugar Example: Sugar Signal

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Work-Flow: Cube, Mint, Sugar

Thank you!