TRANSIMS: Applications and Development Workshop

April 8–9, 2010
NEXTA for TRANSIMS: Existing Visualization Capabilities and Future Enhancements

Xuesong Zhou, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
122 South Central Campus Dr.
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0561
Phone: 801-585-6590,
Fax: 801-585-5477
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 List of Authors
================
Xuesong Zhou, University of Utah

Abstract
=========
How to improve the computational efficiency of TRANSIMS simulation and routing modules is a challenging task, especially when practitioners are ready to deploy TRANSIMS for large-scale networks. In this talk, we will present our recent experiment results on using simplified traffic flow models for typical MPO regional networks, through the development of an open-source light-weight DTA engine, namely DTALite. The emerging multi-core computer processor technique and cloud computing architecture are offering unprecedented available parallel computing power. To exploit this paradigm change in computing will require a new software architecture and algorithm design. We will share our experiences using OpenMP programming interfaces for shortest path calculation, and further discuss the requirements and challenges in porting a DTA engine to a cloud computing environment.

Biography
==========
Dr. Xuesong Zhou is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah. Prior to joining the University of Utah, he served as a Traffic Data Architect and Senior Software Engineer at Dash Navigation, Inc, designing and developing the first commercialized internet-connected GPS navigation system in the U.S. He has been assisting the FHWA to develop and provide technical support for a large-scale simulation-based dynamic traffic assignment system, namely DYNASMART, for past 10 years. He also develops and maintains the graphical user interface NEXTA for major traffic assignment programs such as DYNASMART-P and TRANSIMS. He is the Co-Chair of the IEEE ITS Society Technical Committee on Traffic and Travel Management and serves as a Committee Member for TRB Committee on Transportation Network Modeling (ADB30), (April 2009 - April 2012).