Design Features of Activity-Based Microsimulation Models for U.S. Metropolitan Planning Organizations: A Summary

Abstract

This paper provides a concise summary of important design features of various activity-based model systems that have been implemented or have recently been designed for planning agencies in the United States. The models described are for Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; New York; Columbus, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; Sacramento, California; the Bay Area of California; and Denver, Colorado. These models were selected because they are in the same family of activity-based models, and one or both of the authors have been involved in the design of all of them except for New York. Two other examples have also been included in the summary table and supplementary text of activity-based models in the United States: the CEMDAP model for Dallas, Texas, and the FAMOS model for southeast Florida (see sidebars, pages 14 and 17). Not included is the TRANSIMS model or the TLUMIP model for Oregon. Although those models share some of the features discussed here, the authors are not sufficiently familiar with them to compare them at the level of detail included here; that, however, could be a useful extension of this paper. All model systems described in this paper share a similar overall structure, with a hierarchy of levels from top to bottom, with the lower choices predicted conditionally on higher-level choices. The levels are: Population synthesis: geographic allocation of households; Longer-term decisions: auto ownership and (in some cases) work and school locations; Person–household day level: number of tours and activities made for various purposes; Tour level: main destination and mode, begin and end times, and number of stops; and Trip level: intermediate stop location and the mode and departure time of each trip. Within this structure, several important design features distinguish the models, and these are summarized in a table. Each paragraph in this paper is a more detailed annotation of a row in the comparison table.

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