TRANSIMS Visualizations at TRACC

TRANSIMS Rendering

Example of a higher quality rendering of a TRANSIMS case study. Frames such as the one shown here are rendered in a batch-driven GIS application from standard GIS layers and GIS files created by TRANSIMS. A series of hundreds or thousands of such images (for each fraction of a second) are them assembled into a video format.

Superimposing GIS Layers

This sample frame from one of the typical visualizations illustrates how many different layers are superimposed. In this particular case, a layer with satellite imagery forms the basis, with semitransparent layers for waterways and building outlines (provided by CMAP). An additional roadway layer with lane by lane drawings created by TRANSIMS forms the street network. Finally, the individual vehicles are drawn in form of polygon GIS layers and full opacity on top of the other features. The last layer differs of course from each frame to frame for a give movie, making the vehicles move. 

TransimsVIS

This image illustrates a work-in-progress prototype of TransimsVIS, a graphical user interface for the TRACC visualization methodology. Up to date, researches had to edit script files describing the view and visualization parameters programmatically. With a graphical user interface, such tedious work can be significantly reduced, making the generation of specific scenarios with certain visual effects significantly easier to configure. While a high quality movies is still being rendered as a batch job, all aspects of the configuration are performed in the GUI, including limited preview capabilities to predict the final visual appearance of the video.

TransimsIDE

The TRANSIMS Integrated Development Environment (a new Graphical User Interface on top of a new Run Time Environment) is in a pre-alpha stage and is expected to become ready for initial deployment in the spring of 2010.

Comparison of congestion from two separate regional microsimulations focused on the Elgion O'Hare Region.

Simulation of some of the transit routes in the Elgin O'Hare region. Buses are drawn large so they are visible from the regional view. Circles around the buses indicate relative riderships among them.

This video demonstrates the concept of "probe vehicles" in TransimsVIS. The software randomly selects a certain percentage of vehicles to display in "large" size so that you can get a quick aerial idea of which paths are quick and which are not.

This video demonstrates how congestion develops over time by utilizing a "heat plot" which becomes hotter as more vehicles accumulate in a given area and cooler as they dissipate.

TransimsVIS allows quick visual analysis of large systems of traffic signals. In this animation the green "conveyors" move fluidly through sections of road where the traffic lights are green i.e. if you were a car along that conveyor you would see all green signals ahead of you. The conveyors dissipate to green outlines and finally red outlines right before there are no permitted movements, i.e. if you are a car following a red conveyor you would see a red traffic signal ahead.

TransimsVIS now supports car following movies by attaching the back of the camera to a car. Additionally, this video showcases how interpolation can make even a second-by-second movie seem smooth.

TransimsVIS now allows full 3D rotation. This movie demonstrates how basic camera movements can create a cinematic fly down from an aerial level to a street level. Notice how this movie integrates with the heat plot logic showing bursts of red where there is congestion, cooling back down to green when it dissipates.

TransimsVIS has several features related to the display of transit vehicle such as buses. In this movie the circle indicates the relative number of passengers – notice how the size changes as people get on and off.