The Compare Scenario module produces two reports that compare the LOS results of up to four user specified scenarios. The scenarios to be included are specified in the Compare Scenario Parameters dialog box, which is accessed from Options…Global Data menu (see Figure 37 ).
The Summary Scenario Comparison Report is a tabular report showing the LOS and delay for all intersections for each scenario. Each row has one intersection and the LOS results at that intersection for each scenario. The Detailed Scenario Comparison Report shows more detail for each intersection in a two-page per intersection format (two scenarios per page), including turning volumes, lanes, signal phasing, cycle length, critical V/C ratio, average delay, and level of service for each of up to four scenarios. The graphical version of this report shows all four scenarios on one page. The user can choose to produce either or both of these reports during the Compare Scenario run.
Figure 37 Compare Scenario Parameters
The data used in these reports can be either the Base alternative data (before adding trips from the zones) or the Future alternative data (which includes the trips from the zones).
If Base data is reported, the user can choose which volumes are to be shown for the turning volumes on the Detailed report. Available choices are:
These are the counts entered in the intersection Volume screen (Base Vol. on the LOS Computation report).
These are the Base turning movement volumes with the growth adjustment factor applied (Initial Base on the Base LOS Computation Report).
These are the resulting volume from the Base case with all of the volumes added and all of the adjustment factors applied (Final Volume on the Base LOS Computation Report)
If Future data is reported, the user has the following available volume choices:
These are the Base turning movement volumes plus the traffic generated by the zones of the network.
These are the Base turning movement volumes, with the growth adjustment factor applied, plus the traffic generated by the zones of the network, plus the passerby volumes, if any have been entered (Initial Future on the Future LOS Computation Report).
These are the resulting volumes from the Future case with all of the volumes added and all of the adjustment factors applied. (Final Volume on the Future LOS Computation Report)
The user can request that a LOS Computation Report (Compute Report) for each intersection in each scenario be produced along with the scenario comparison reports. These are the same reports that are produced by the Evaluate run when the LOS Compute reports and the LOS Detail reports are selected in the Reports dialog box. To request these reports during the Compare Scenario run, “check” the Compute Report and/or Detail Compute Report boxes in the Compare Scenario Parameters dialog box. The user can also request that TRAFFIX™ output a standard text based tabular report, and/or a Graphic/RTF (rich text format) summary that includes a simple graphic representation of the intersection geometry. This RTF file (like all of the TRAFFIX™ output files) can be manipulated with an external word processing program.
Three other reports are also available:
The LOS Distribution report shows the number of intersections with each of the LOS designations (A through F) for each scenario.
The intersection conditions report shows basic information (count date, count time, delay, LOS and Crit. V/C) for each intersection for each scenario.
The lane geometry report shows the lane geometry data for each intersection for each scenario in an easy to compare format.
TRAFFIX™ for Windows can read (and write) data files for use with the DOS version of the program. DOS version files can be read in as combined project files (a *.CMD file and its associated .IN file) or as individual component files (.CMD, *.NET, *.VOL, *.GEO, *.FEE, *.GEN, *.DST, *.PTH, *.RTE, *.CFG).
When reading any DOS version data file, the dialog box shown below will be displayed. An x in the box for a given data type will cause that data to be completely cleared in the network’s current scenario before the DOS file is read. The Select All to Clear button enters an x for all data types. The Unselect All to Clear button enters clears the checkbox for all data types. If an x is not placed in the box for a given data type, any data contained in the DOS file being read will replace existing data in the current scenario, but existing data in the current scenario without corresponding new data in the DOS file will be retained. This is a replace without clearing operation.
For Paths, the All Existing Paths option clears all existing path data and the Percentages Only option only clears the Percentage values for the existing paths.
For Routes, the All Existing Routes option clears all existing route data and the Evaluate Only option only clears the Evaluate values for the existing routes.
The Add Volume Data selection will cause the volumes in the DOS file to added to the volumes in the current scenario, rather than replacing them.
The Read Data Into Existing Nodes Only selection will cause the program to ignore any nodes in the DOS file which are not present in the Windows database.
Figure 38 Read TRAFFIX™ for DOS File Dialog Box
When reading TRAFFIX™ for DOS data files, remember that TRAFFIX™ for Windows uses only one network for all of the scenarios in the database. Therefore, if you attempt to create multiple scenarios by reading in successive *.CMD, *.IN, or *.NET files, only the network data in the first file will be used. Therefore, if your analysis requires alternate networks (i.e., a node which is unsignalized in the existing scenario and signalized in the future you should create separate databases, each with a different network.
These Read and Write features can be useful even if the user does not need to transfer data to and from the DOS version of the program. These features provide a powerful way to manage data. For instance, volume files for new scenarios can be created by using the write feature to create separate volume (*.VOL) files for the various traffic components (e.g., existing, project, approved projects) involved in the analysis and then successively read the applicable files into the new scenario (e.g., existing + approved), using the Add Volume Data selection.