Step-by-Step TutorialStep-by-Step Tutorial NEXTA: Simulation Data NEXTA: Simulation Data Visualizer for TRANSIMSVisualizer for TRANSIMS

NEXTA: NEXTA: NNetwork etwork EXEXplorer for plorer for TTraffic raffic AAnalysisnalysisSponsored by Sponsored by

Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration

Developed and Prepared by Developed and Prepared by Dr. Xuesong Zhou, Univ. of UtahDr. Xuesong Zhou, Univ. of Utah

zhou@eng.utah.edu

Freeware can be downloaded atFreeware can be downloaded at

http://www.civil.utah.edu/~zhou/NEXTA_for_TRANSIMS.html

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Sample Occupancy PlotSample Occupancy Plot

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Sample Vehicle Snapshot Sample Vehicle Snapshot PlotPlot

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Sample Bottleneck Sample Bottleneck Snapshot Snapshot PlotPlot

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Sample Travel Time Sample Travel Time ContourContour

(Accessibility) Snapshot (Accessibility) Snapshot PlotPlot

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Tutorial OutlineTutorial Outline Network and control data visualizationNetwork and control data visualization

View node and link properties, lane View node and link properties, lane configurationconfiguration

Configure dynamic project menuConfigure dynamic project menu Time-dependent simulation data Time-dependent simulation data

visualizationvisualization View cell occupancy, speed, queue length and View cell occupancy, speed, queue length and

vehicle locations, MOE profilesvehicle locations, MOE profiles Other toolsOther tools

Find multiple pathsFind multiple paths Create nodes and links (in development)Create nodes and links (in development)

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Step 0: Create a Project FileStep 0: Create a Project File Project file (*.tsp) is used by NEXTA to Project file (*.tsp) is used by NEXTA to

locate the folder of a TRANSIMS locate the folder of a TRANSIMS projectproject

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Inside a *.tsp Project FileInside a *.tsp Project File

First line should have the relative First line should have the relative location of the microsimulation location of the microsimulation control filecontrol fileExample: TestNet data set Example: TestNet data set

setup\master\Microsimulator.ctl setup\master\Microsimulator.ctl

Example: Alexandria data setExample: Alexandria data setsetup\control\setup\control\

Microsimulator.ctlMicrosimulator.ctl

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Step 1: Open a Project Step 1: Open a Project

If the specified microsimulation file is not found in tsp file, the user will be provided with an option to manually load the microsimulation control file, or use the default input file locations

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Step 1: Open a Project Step 1: Open a Project Select iteration number Select iteration number

A user can specify an iteration A user can specify an iteration number for loading average number for loading average link performance, cell link performance, cell occupancy and vehicle occupancy and vehicle snapshot data. snapshot data.

By default, NEXTA By default, NEXTA automatically identifies and automatically identifies and loads the maximum (i.e. the loads the maximum (i.e. the last) iteration number, if last) iteration number, if multiple iterations of simulation multiple iterations of simulation results are available from those results are available from those files stored in folder “\\results”.files stored in folder “\\results”.

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Step 1: Open a Project Step 1: Open a Project Define Loading Time Define Loading Time

WindowWindow

For (memory-consuming) cell For (memory-consuming) cell occupancy and vehicle snapshot occupancy and vehicle snapshot data, a user can specify “Start data, a user can specify “Start Time” and “End Time” to define a Time” and “End Time” to define a data loading time window to data loading time window to reduce required memory for the reduce required memory for the GUI program.GUI program.

For link performance data such For link performance data such as density, speed and queue as density, speed and queue length, NEXTA loads 24 hours of length, NEXTA loads 24 hours of simulation data automatically.simulation data automatically.

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Input FilesInput Files

Folder Folder NetworkNetwork Node.txt, Link.txt, Pocket_Lane.txt, Shape.txt, Zone.txtNode.txt, Link.txt, Pocket_Lane.txt, Shape.txt, Zone.txt Signalized_Node.txt, Timing_Plan.txt, Phasing_Plan.txtSignalized_Node.txt, Timing_Plan.txt, Phasing_Plan.txt

Folder Folder ResultsResults Performance.txt (density, speed, queue)Performance.txt (density, speed, queue) Occupancy_Avg.txt (cell occupancy)Occupancy_Avg.txt (cell occupancy) Snapshot.txt (vehicle locations)Snapshot.txt (vehicle locations)

Remarks: A test data set with the above files can be downloaded at Remarks: A test data set with the above files can be downloaded at http://www.civil.utah.edu/~zhou/TestNet.zipA user can execute A user can execute /setup/runall.bat/setup/runall.bat to generate those files to generate those files

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First LookFirst Look

View Tools

DistanceMove Network PanZoom In Zoom Out Show Entire Network Show/Hide Grid Show/Hide NodeShow/Hide Zone

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Step 2: Zoom In -> View Lane Step 2: Zoom In -> View Lane ConfigurationConfiguration

Zooming can also be accomplished with the Page Up / Page Down keys, the + / - keys or the mouse wheel.

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Step 3: Double-Click a Node Step 3: Double-Click a Node to Show Node and Control to Show Node and Control

Properties Properties

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For link 110->105, there are three movements with traffic volume: movement 110->105->104 has 326 vehicles with 729 seconds of average delay, movement 110->105->101 has 323 vehicles with 690 seconds of average delay, and movement 110->105->106 has 896 vehicles with 609 seconds of average delay

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Step 4: Single-Click a Link to Step 4: Single-Click a Link to Show Shape PointsShow Shape Points

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Step 5: Double-Click a Link to Step 5: Double-Click a Link to Show Link PropertyShow Link Property

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Step 6: Find Node / Find Step 6: Find Node / Find Link / Measure DistanceLink / Measure Distance

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Step 7: Change Color Step 7: Change Color Preferences for Background Preferences for Background

and Link Typesand Link Types

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Step 8: View Text FileStep 8: View Text File

NEXTA fetches input file names directly from the microsimulator control file.

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Step 9: Select Display Mode Step 9: Select Display Mode to View Simulation Resultsto View Simulation Results

Occupancy, Speed, Queue, Vehicles, Volume, Single Vehicle, Travel Time ContourOccupancy, Speed, Queue, Vehicles, Volume, Single Vehicle, Travel Time Contour

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Cell-based Occupancy (I) Cell-based Occupancy (I)

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Cell-based Occupancy Cell-based Occupancy (II)(II)

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Cell-based Occupancy Cell-based Occupancy (III)(III)

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Cell-based Occupancy Cell-based Occupancy (IV)(IV)

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SpeedSpeed

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Queue LengthQueue Length

Queue length = average number of stopped vehicles per lane * 7.5 meters

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Vehicle Vehicle

Vehicle locations are imported from snapshot file

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Travel Time ContourTravel Time Contour

When the display mode is set to Travel

Time Contour Display Mode, the

minimum path travel times between a

designated destination and other nodes

can be plotted on the network window.

A user can right-click a node to select

menu “Define Destination to Calculate

Travel Time Contour”.

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Travel Time ContourTravel Time Contour

The minimum path

travel times between

a designated

destination and

other nodes are

plotted on the

network window.

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Travel Time ContourTravel Time Contour

The numbers on a node indicates the calculated minimum path travel time (in minutes) between the current node to the designated destination.

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Travel Time ContourTravel Time ContourA user can also customizes the thresholds of travel time categories

displayed in travel time contour by selecting menu -> View -> Change

LOS Interval in Travel Time Contour.

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Step 10: Show Simulation Step 10: Show Simulation Results at a Given TimeResults at a Given Time

Simulation Time Clock: 1 hour: Simulation Time Clock: 1 hour: 33 min33 min

Clock BarClock Bar

Drag the slider of the clock bar to view simulation results Drag the slider of the clock bar to view simulation results at a given time of simulation horizonat a given time of simulation horizon

SliderSlider

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Go to First Minute with VehiclesGo to First Minute with Vehicles

A user can set the slider of the clock bar

at the first minute with vehicles.

A snapshot file might only cover a short

time period of the entire simulation

horizon.

After a TRANSIMS project has been

loaded, a user can click on menu->View

->Go to First Minute with Vehicles to

jump to the first time stamp with

snapshot data.

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Step 11: Play AnimationStep 11: Play Animation

Rewind, play, pause, stop

Remarks: Simulation clock is advanced at 1-min Remarks: Simulation clock is advanced at 1-min intervalinterval

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Step 12: Double-Click a Link Step 12: Double-Click a Link to Show MOE Profileto Show MOE Profile

Time axis (unit: min)

Green line indicates the current simulation time

Upstream node -> Downstream node (# link ID)

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Step 13: Configure MOE Step 13: Configure MOE Display DialogDisplay Dialog

•MOE: Density, Speed, Queue Length, Volume•Start Time, End Time, Max Y •Background color

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Step 14: Multi-link Step 14: Multi-link ComparisonComparison

Select multiple links (by using Ctrl+ mouse click) to Select multiple links (by using Ctrl+ mouse click) to display MOE time profiles simultaneously for multiple display MOE time profiles simultaneously for multiple

selected links, in the same or different projectsselected links, in the same or different projects. .

Data can be exported to a CSV Data can be exported to a CSV filefile

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Step 15: Find PathsStep 15: Find Paths Select an origin node, Select an origin node, Right-click to select menu Right-click to select menu ““Define Origin to Find Define Origin to Find

Shortest PathShortest Path””,, Select a destination node, Select a destination node, Right-click to select menu Right-click to select menu ““Define Destination to Define Destination to

Find Shortest PathFind Shortest Path””..

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Step 16: Show Multiple Paths Step 16: Show Multiple Paths Path 1: 15 min Path 3: 18.6 Path 1: 15 min Path 3: 18.6

minmin

The path finding algorithm uses dynamic travel time calculated from simulated link speed at a given time.

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Step 17: Create Nodes/LinksStep 17: Create Nodes/Links

Insert node (in the Insert node (in the middle of a link)middle of a link)

Add one-way linkAdd one-way linkAdd two-way linkAdd two-way linkAdd zoneAdd zoneAdd stop sign Add stop sign Add yield signAdd yield signAdd pre-timed controller Add pre-timed controller Add actuated controller Add actuated controller

Select link type

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Step 18: Show Bottleneck Step 18: Show Bottleneck Information Information

A user can click on menu

View->Bottleneck Info->

Bottlenecks to display

bottleneck information on

different links.

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Step 18: Show Bottleneck Step 18: Show Bottleneck Information Information

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Step 19: Sort Link Step 19: Sort Link Performance Data Performance Data

A user can click on menu Project->Sort Link Performance Data to sort,

display and export the link performance data in a designated time

window.

Select an MOE

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Step 20: Sort Movement Step 20: Sort Movement Performance Data Performance Data

Select a Field

A user can click on menu Project->Sort Movement Performance DataSort Movement Performance Data

to sort, display and export the intersection movement performance data

in a designated time window.

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Step 21: Reload Simulation Step 21: Reload Simulation Data with Selected FilesData with Selected Files

As there might be multiple snapshot files for the same simulation run, a

user can click on menu ->File->Reload Simulation Data with Selected

Files to reselect the simulation files to be loaded.

A user can select the

snapshot, performance, and

average occupancy files of a

designated simulation run

individually.

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Future DevelopmentFuture Development

Save network dataSave network data Run simulation directlyRun simulation directly Configure simulation scenariosConfigure simulation scenarios Use vehicle trajectory informationUse vehicle trajectory information Enable travel time reliability analysis Enable travel time reliability analysis Enable impacted vehicle analysis Enable impacted vehicle analysis Identify traffic bottlenecks through Identify traffic bottlenecks through

vehicle trajectory filevehicle trajectory file