• Congestion Management Process
• Regional Concept for Transportation Operations
• Regional ITS Architecture
• Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations

 

• Data Collection and Sharing
• Funding and Resource Sharing
• Institutional Arrangements
• Performance Measurement

 

• Glossary
• Analysis Tools
• Policy and Guidance
• Publications
• Training

Analysis Tools

• ITS Deployment Analysis System (IDAS) – Software developed by the Federal Highway Administration that can be used in planning for Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) deployments. State, regional, and local planners can use IDAS to estimate the benefits and costs of ITS investments which are either alternatives to or enhancements of traditional highway and transit infrastructure. IDAS can currently predict relative costs and benefits for more than 60 types of ITS investments. Practitioners will find a number of useful features that enhance ITS planning.
• Surface Transportation Efficiency Analysis Model (STEAM) – The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) emphasizes assessment of multimodal alternatives and demand management strategies. This emphasis has increased the need for planners to provide useful comparative information to decision makers with regard to proposed alternative transportation solutions. Benefit-cost analysis is a useful tool to compare the economic worth of alternatives and evaluate trade-offs between economic benefits and non-monetizable social and environmental impacts.
• Advanced Interactive Microscopic Simulator for Urban and Non-Urban Networks (AIMSUN) – A new traffic analysis tool for traffic assignment and simulation analyses. It represents roadway and traffic conditions realistically, includes 3D visualization, and interfaces with other software such as EMME/2, Synchro, TRANSYT/10, and SCATS. It also includes an Application Programming Interface (API) to access the internal data from the simulator, during simulation. The software can be applied to support Transportation Demand Modeling activities by integrating dynamic traffic assignment with microscopic traffic simulation. For further information on AIMSUN, contact aimsun@kldassociates.com.
• VISUM – A comprehensive, flexible software system for transportation planning, travel demand modeling and network data management. Designed for multimodal analysis, VISUM integrates all relevant modes of transportation (i.e., SOV, HOV, truck, bus, train, pedestrians and bicyclists) into one consistent network model. VISUM provides assignment procedures and 4-stage modeling routines to meet the requirements of all the different modes. VISUM can build conventional four-step models, as well as provide many specialized methods for the advanced user. VISUM is integrated with the microscopic traffic simulation software VISSIM, providing transportation professionals with a complete suite for their modeling needs.
• TransCAD and TransModeler – TransCAD combines GIS and transportation modeling capabilities in a single integrated platform and can be used for all modes of transportation, at any scale or level of detail. TransCAD provides:
  • A powerful GIS engine with special extensions for transportation
  • Mapping, visualization, and analysis tools designed for transportation applications
  • Application modules for routing, travel demand forecasting, public transit, logistics, site location, and territory management
  • TransCAD can integrate with TransModeler, a microscopic traffic simulation model, which will allow users to address operations issues in the planning context.
• Dynamic Network Assignment-Simulation Model for Advanced Roadway Telematics – Planning Version (DYNASMART-P) – A software tool developed for traffic operations planning applications under Federal Highway Administration's Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) research program. DYNASMART-P combines (1) dynamic network assignment models, used primarily in conjunction with demand forecasting procedures for planning applications, and (2) traffic simulation models, used primarily for traffic operations studies. DYNASMART-P overcomes the limitations of traditional static assignment and simulation models by using advanced traffic modeling techniques to capture the dynamics of congestion formation and dissipation associated with time-varying demands and network conditions. It represents a new generation of traffic analysis tools to support transportation network operations and planning decisions. Potential applications of DYNASMART-P include:
  • Providing dynamic traffic assignment methods for traditional transportation planning analyses.
  • Assessing impacts of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and non-ITS technologies on the transportation network in the planning process.
  • Assessing impacts of different traffic operation and control strategies.
  • Supporting decision-making for work zone planning and traffic management.
  • Evaluating incident management strategies.
  • Evaluating congestion-pricing schemes that vary with location, time, and prevailing roadway conditions.
  • DYNASMART-P is expected to be available in Summer 2004 from the McTrans Software Center.
• Travel Model Improvement Program – Helps planning agencies improve the techniques they use to inform their decision makers on how growth in population and employment, development patterns, and investments in transportation infrastructure are likely to affect travel, congestion, air quality, and quality of life.
• TRansportation ANalysis and SIMulation System (TRANSIMS) – A set of travel modeling procedures designed to meet the State DOTs' and MPOs' need for more accurate and more sensitive travel forecasts for transportation planning and emissions analysis.