| Time: 3:00-4:20 TTh | Office: Parrington 209A |
| Room: Mary Gates Hall 251 | Phone: 221-4161 |
|
Email: pwaddell@u.washington.edu |
Office Hours: T Th 4:30-5:30 |
This course introduces students to the evolving use of computerized models of urban land use, transportation and environment in the development of plans and policies. The course focuses on the metropolitan planning context for these models, reviews the state of the practice, and examines emerging directions for these analytical tools. The structure of the course is designed to involve students in active research projects at the UW on the design, development and testing of new land use, transportation, and environmental models:
The UrbanSim project has developed an operational urban simulation system over the past few years with funding from the National Science Foundation and other sources, and is being distributed via the Internet (www.urbansim.org). Current activities on this project include creating a graphical user interface to operate the model, creating a set of visualization tools to explore simulation results, and developing a data integration system to prepare data for applying the model in other locations. The model has been applied in Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Work on validation and sensitivity testing of the model using the Eugene-Springfield application will be one of the areas of active research during the spring quarter.
The University of Washington PRISM project (www.prism.washington.edu) is a large-scale long-term research collaboration created by the University Initiative Fund, which seeks to link urban and environmental models throughout the Cascade region. UrbanSim is being extended in this project to link to environmental processes, by adding model components that address land cover change, water demand, and nutrient emissions, in addition to respecifying the real estate development component of UrbanSim.
A review of the state of the practice will cover the four-step travel model system and the DRAM/EMPAL land use model used by the PSRC and other Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the U.S. The balance of the course will focus on new and emerging models and approaches, and on the model development process.
The course has three objectives:
A set of readings has been linked to the course web page. Additional readings will be distributed in class or made available on library reserve.
Students are expected to read the course materials, actively participate in class discussion, complete class assignments, and develop a term project. It is anticipated that students will vary in their level of background, skills and interests, so the assignments and projects are designed accordingly.
There will be four class assignments, designed to familiarize students with different aspects of the course material, and to involve them in active research on model development.
Install UrbanSim from the web (http://www.urbansim.org/beta/install.html)
on a computer, and run the default scenario. Use the draft online help for installating
and running
the model. Create a new scenario by changing the constraints on development
and running the model again. Examine the model results. Document any difficulties
you encountered and recommendations on refining the user interface in a short
memo. Due April 3.
Select a model from those reviewed in the EPA report (but not one reviewed in the TCRP H-12 report), and write a short evaluation of the model, using the same classification framework found in the TCRP H-12 report. Due April 10.
Using the Eugene-Springfield application of the UrbanSim model, a set of sensitivity tests will be developed and allocated as assignments. Tests should be run and documented by comparing alternatives to a base scenario and documenting significant differences in a short memo. Due April 26.
Details of assignment TBA.
Depending on student background, skills and interests, one of the following approaches to a term project may be selected, or an alternative project may be defined in consultation with the instructor.
For students with expertise in discrete choice modeling (equivalent of CEE 585, Analytical Methods in Transportation II), a project may be organized around the specification and testing of a discrete choice model related to household choices of residence, workplace, and auto ownership, using available data for one or more metropolitan areas (alternative applications may be explored).
For students with substantial expertise or interest in GIS and data analysis (equivalent of URBDP 422, Urban and Regional Geo-spatial Analysis), a project may be organized around the ongoing development of a software system to integrate data for land use and transportation modeling. The software is being designed and implemented by the UrbanSim programming team, but user input and feedback is needed to shape the components and tools.
For students interested in policy applications and evaluation of alternative policies, a project may be organized around the development of a design for an scenario evaluation component that would involve specification of indicators using outputs from the UrbanSim model system, to support cost-benefit analysis and least cost planning, and other forms of evaluation of competing stakeholder values and priorities.
Lecture 1 Powerpoint Presentation
Readings:
Waddell, P. 2001. Analytical Tools for Land Use, Transportation, and Growth Management
Additional Resources:
Beimborn, E. 1995. A Transportation Modeling Primer. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Lecture 2 Powerpoint Presentation
Readings:
In addition to laying out a conceptual framework for integrating urban and environmental modeling, this paper provides a current review of urban modeling approaches:
Alberti, M. 1999. Modeling the Urban Ecosystem A Conceptual Framework. Environment and Planning B.
Additional Resources:
Highly recommended reading over next few weeks, for those lacking familiarity with discrete choice modeling techniques such as multinomial and nested logit models:
KPMG LLP, F. Koppelman and C. Bhat. 2000. A Self Instructing Course in Mode Choice Modeling
Lecture 3 Powerpoint Presentation
Readings:
Lecture 4 Powerpoint Presentation
Compilation of Model Reviews by Students (Assignment 2)
Readings:
Other Resources:
Guest: Larry Blain, Puget Sound Regional Council
Lecture 5 Powerpoint Presentation
Readings:
Cambridge Systematics, Inc., University of Washington and Urban Analytics. 2000. Draft Report: Land Use and Travel Demand Forecasting Model Documentation. (advice: it's long, just skim)
Lecture 6 Powerpoint Presentation
Readings:
Guest: Firouzeh Nourzad, Urban Analytics
Lecture 7 Powerpoint Presentation
Readings:
Readings: TBA
Guest: Alan Borning
Readings:
Readings:
Waddell, P. et al. 2001. Recommendations for Integrated Land Use and Transportation Models Section 1
Guest: Batya Friedman
Millett, L., Friedman, B., & Felten, E. (in press). Cookies and Web browser design: Toward realizing informed consent online. CHI 2001 Proceedings of the Conference on Human Factors in Computer Systems. New York: Association for Computing Machinery. UW-CSE Technical Report (00-12-3).
Video of seminar presentation in Computer Science and Engineering:http://www.cs.washington.edu/htbin-post/unrestricted/news/colloq/on_demand/index.cgi
Readings:
Waddell, P. et al. 2001. Recommendations for Integrated Land Use and Transportation Models Section 2.1-2.2
Guest: Mark Handcock
Readings: TBA
Readings:
Rey, S. (forthcoming) Integrated Regional Econometric+Input-Output Modeling: Issues and Opportunities. Papers in Regional Science.
Readings:
Waddell, P. et al. 2001. Recommendations for Integrated Land Use and Transportation Models Sections 1-2
Guest: Maren Outwater
Readings:
Waddell, P. et al. 2001. Recommendations for Integrated Land Use and Transportation Models Sections 2.4
Readings:
Draft PSRC Model Design
Readings:
Draft PSRC Model Design
Guest: Marina Alberti
Readings: TBA
Readings:
Draft PSRC Model Design