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Computing Environment
This section describes the hardware and software SANDAG uses to execute the model. It is important to note that both the software and model structure are highly configurable and flexible; depending on the analysis needs, the required computing power could vary dramatically. SANDAG currently has the model configured to run on a single machine. The hardware and software are described below.
- Operating system: Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Release 2 with Service Pack 1 or Win-7, 64-bit Enterprise edition;
- Processors: Two Intel Xeon processors with 8-16 cores (i.e., two processors with hyper-threading capability);
- Memory (RAM): 256 GB recommended (160 GB is minimum required memory)
The travel model currently uses Version 4.3.7 64-bit Emme software. The Emme software is used to build skims, manipulate networks, manipulate matrices, perform assignments, and run the aggregate special market models. The Java software, as discussed below, needs to access matrix data in OMX format. The details of setting up and configuring the software are presented in Setup and Configuration.
SANDAG’s travel model operates on the open-source Coordinated Travel - Regional Activity-based Modeling Platform (or CT-RAMP) developed by Parsons Brinckerhoff. The software is written in the Java programming language. Because the CT-RAMP software compiles code "on-the-fly", the 64-bit Java Development Kit (version 1.6 or later) must be installed on each computer running the CT-RAMP software. The Java Development Kit includes the Java Runtime Environment. The 64-bit version of the software allows CT-RAMP to take advantage of larger memory addresses.
The output of the travel model is handled by Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Enterprise products. ABM output data is loaded via SQL Server Integration Services into a SQL database for management, manipulation, storage, and reporting. It is planned to further leverage these products, along with SQL Server Analysis Services and Reporting Services, to create a full reporting suite accessible internally at SANDAG via report flat files or Microsoft Power Pivot and externally via the web.
The CT-RAMP software allows discrete choice models to be specified via spreadsheets, referred to as “Utility Expression Calculator” or UECs. These files are Excel-based. It is helpful to have Excel installed so that the spreadsheets can be opened, though it is not essential for running the model system.