Adding Tour-Based Modeling to TxDOT’s Travel Modeling Framework

(PI: Chandra Bhat)

Dr. Bhat was the PI for a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) funded project that aimed to clearly evaluate the feasibility of, and understand the benefits from, implementing a simple tour-based modeling process for those MPOs for which the Transportation Planning and Programming (TP&P) Division of TxDOT undertakes the modeling. This project documented the steps to transition toward a tour-based framework, including an evaluation of data needs, software requirements and software enhancements, ease of implementation and application, and staffing and related resource needs. The primary goals of this project were to (1) identify the practical benefits and advantages of implementing a simple tour-based modeling framework from the standpoint of behavioral realism, model accuracy, and ease of implementation, and (2) if it is demonstrated that there are advantages in implementing a tour-based model, then clearly layout (and evaluate the feasibility of) the steps required to implement a tour-based modeling process. A knowledge base was developed to summarize the recommendations made and allow analysts to interactively learn the benefits and challenges of using an activity-based modeling system.