TMIP Exploratory Modeling and Analysis Tool (TMIP-EMAT) Beta Test Results

Federal Highway Administration2019PDFTech ReportMilkovits, MartinCopperman, Rachel B.Newman, JeffreyLemp, JasonRossi, ThomasUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationCambridge Systematics, Inc.Sun, SarahUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited StatesTravel demandTraffic modelsMonte Carlo methodTMIP-EMATExploratory Modeling and AnalysisTravel Demand ModelingRegional ModelsCorridor StudiesUncertainty analysisMonte Carlo simulationFHWA-HEP-20-015DTFH61-16-D00016LSun, SarahThe objective of this project is to demonstrate and motivate the use of regional travel demand models in an exploratory/experimental manner, as opposed to the traditional single point predictive approach, specifically for analyzing the impacts of new technology. The study contributes to our understanding of the impact that the rapid technological evolution has on the movement of people and goods on surface transportation system. It also evaluates the applicability of the robust decision making process on transportation planning by identifying and addressing hurdles in the application of an exploratory analysis to support real-world planning analysis. This report describes the successful deployment of Travel Model Improvement Program Exploratory Modeling and Analysis Tool (TMIP-EMAT) at three beta-test sites: Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). All three beta-testers developed scopes specific to the agency interests, developed the API and model extensions and completed sufficient runs on agency workstations to support an analysis workshop. The beta-tester core models represent three of the major travel demand model software programs and the applications range from regional, sub-regional and corridor level analyses. Each of the beta-testers utilized their calibrated, official models or subcomponents of the official production model. This report describes the beta-test process, summarizes the applications and highlights lessons learned and areas for future improvement in the TMIP-EMAT application process and in the tool itself.119