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Technical Tools

The Oregon Department of Transportation has a suite of transportation and land use modeling and analysis tools available to help provide information to complex questions that communities or policy makers might be facing. These tools are used when an agency or a community wants to evaluate potential ramifications of policy actions, and to evaluate how a combined set of plans, programs and actions work together to produce a specific result. ODOT has an extensive toolbox that can be used to inform many different transportation questions. 

Anticipated Change in Long Range Travel Forecasts 

COVID-19 quarantine restrictions impacted traffic patterns, which raises the question of whether there will be permanent changes to travel.  Some of the changes made because of COVID may be long term, while others may not. Read more about anticipated change in long range travel forecasts.

Analysis Tools

The Analysis Procedures Manual provides the current methodologies, practices and procedures for conducting long term analysis of ODOT plans and projects.

OTSDE, the Oregon Transportation Safety Data Explorer, is a publicly accessible, web-based GIS tool that supports ODOT safety and multi modal work, helping users see connections to leverage efforts across programs. OTSDE uses ESRI Web AppBuilder functionality to provide a user interface that does not require ArcGIS skills to view and filter crash data, crash screening data, and active transportation data. The main capabilities of OTSDE are:

  1. Visualize Corridors
  2. View Active Transportation Data
  3. Filter Crash Data​

Critical Rate Calculator: The calculator performs crash rate analysis and identifies priority intersections or segments for further safety analysis. For information on how to use this spreadsheet, see Chapter 4 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

Excess Proportion of Specific Crash Types Calculator: The tool performs statistical analysis to calculate a probability of specific crash types exceeding a threshold proportion. For information on how to use and interpret this spreadsheet, see the instructions packaged with the spreadsheet and Chapter 4 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

Saturation Flow Rate Calculator: The tool uses the Highway Capacity Manual 2010 method for calculating saturation flow rates from field data. For information on how to use this spreadsheet, see Chapter 3 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

Signal Progression Calculator: The tool estimates the minimum required progression bandwidth for a signalized system based on volumes at the critical intersection. For information on how to use this spreadsheet, see Chapter 10 of the Analysis Procedures Manual.

Synchro/SimTraffic Templates: The files were created as a tool to both save time and reduce errors when starting Synchro analysis. All parameters are set following ODOT’s Synchro/SimTraffic settings provided in Chapters 7 and 8 of the Analysis Procedures Manual. For additional information on how to use the template files and the changes that were made, refer to the README document that is included in the zip file.

Preliminary Traffic Signal Warrant Analysis Form: This tool may be used to assist in preparing the preliminary traffic signal warrant PSW form. For guidance on preliminary signal warrant analysis, see Chapter 7 of the Analysis Procedures Manual.

Two-Way STOP Controlled Intersection Calculator: This tool is intended for use in facilitating the Queue Length Estimation at Two-Way STOP Controlled Intersection analysis methodology. For more information on the use of this tool, see Chapter 11 of the Analysis Procedures Manual.

Planner Traffic Count Request Template: The TSM unit requires traffic count requests to be submitted using TSM’s Planner Traffic Count Request Template. Instructions for completing the request are included in the template. A sample completed request is available in APM Appendix 3B.

Heavy Vehicle Pavement Design Spreadsheet: This tool is used to calculate future heavy vehicle volumes for pavement design. See Chapter 6 of the Analysis Procedures Manual for information on how to use this spreadsheet.​

Count Processor:​ This tool is used to process count data output from the ODOT Oregon Traffic Monitoring System (OTMS) for input into Visum or ArcGIS. For instructions on how to use this tool, refer to Analysis Procedures Manual Appendix 17A. ​

Separated/Buffered Bikeways Calculator: This tool performs analyses on the operation of separated bikeways and buffered bike lanes. For more information, see Chapter 14 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

Simplified MMLOS Calculator: This tool implements streamlined segment-level pedestrian, bicycle and transit analysis methodologies based on the Highway Capacity Manual 2010. For more information see Chapter 14 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

Shared Path Calculator: This tool implements the Highway Capacity Manual 2010 Chapter 23 method shared path methodology for pedestrian and bicyclists. For more information see Chapter 14 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Signalized Intersection MMLOS Calculator: This tool implements the signalized intersection bicycle and pedestrian multimodal analysis methodology. For more information see Chapter 14 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

Unsignalized Intersection Pedestrian Crossing Calculator​: This spreadsheet tool implements NCHRP Report 562 - "Improving Pedestrian Safety at Unsignalized Crossings." It can be used as a guide to select or screen potential pedestrian crossing treatments for plans and projects. These treatments can range from signs and markings to full mid-block traffic signals. For more information see Chapter 14 of APM Version 2.

Queue and Delay Cost Worksheet: This tool is a simplified spreadsheet calculator for sketch planning level evaluation of bottlenecks on freeways and multilane highways. The tool estimates vehicle queue length, delay, and user cost of delay for conditions where demand exceeds capacity for one or more hours of the day. For more information see Chapter 10 of the Analysis Procedures Manual Version 2.

FREEVAL_OR. This is a customized version of FREEVAL incorporating ODOT-specific default values. The file is stored as a .ZIP archive which must be UNZIPPED before running FREEVAL. It includes a generic HCM6 FREEVAL User Guide with specific instructions. For more information refer to Chapter 11 and Appendix 11E of APM version 2.

ODOT Software Capacity Calculator V1.1​. This tool is a spreadsheet calculator referenced in Appendix 11E to assist in converting ODOT-default bottleneck capacity values into corresponding capacity adjustment factors (CAF) and speed adjustment factors (SAF). For more information refer to Chapter 11 of APM version 2.

BCA Traffic Data Example:​ This spreadsheet provides the computations used in Example 10-2, illustrating traffic data development for scoping level Benefit-Cost Analysis. For more information refer to Chapter 10 of APM version 2.

Modeling Tools

The Oregon Statewide Integrated Model, or SWIM, is an integrated land use transport model covering the entire State of Oregon. It is a second generation model, drawing on previous work done on the First Generation based Statewide Model and the Eugene-Springfield UrbanSim Model. The SWIM2 model incorporates the interaction between Oregon’s economy, land use and transportation systems using a set of connected modules that cover different components of the full system.

  • Economic Model: determines the growth of the state’s economy.
  • Population Synthesizer.
  • Location Model: allocates business productions and transactions.
  • Aggregate Land Development: identifies land availability.
  • Person travel.
  • Commercial goods transport.
  • External goods transport.

Statewid​​e Integrated Model Overview​

Second Generation Statewide Model
​

Development

Statewide Applications

Contact

 Becky Knudson

The VisionEval strategic planning model is used to forecast the long term effects of policies and other influences (e.g. pricing policies, vehicle changes) on the amount of vehicle travel, the types of vehicles and fuels used, energy consumption for vehicle travel and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. VisionEval is useful in early planning stages to estimate first order effects and identify unintended consequences at a regional level, when there are a lot of unknowns. Its programmatic view of investments and policies complements the project-level detail of regional travel models.

VisionEval includes both a statewide (VE-State) and a metropolitan (VE-RSPM) versions used in Oregon. The statewide version has been used for policy applications ranging from state modal plans including the 2022 Oregon Transportation Plan update, the Statewide Transportation Strategy for GHG reduction, and other modal plans, such as quick evaluations in the Oregon Transportation Options Plan and the Oregon Public Transportation Plan. The  metropolitan version of the model has been implemented in various Oregon communities and used in scenario planning efforts.

VisionEval is uniquely able to model transportation GHG emissions at a strategic level.  It was used to create the state's mitigation roadmap, and continues to be used to help monitor progress towards Oregon's legislatively mandated GHG reduction goals. A GHG Modeling Overview document provides a high-level summary of various GHG analysis tools, including VisionEval. This overview was developed by the Oregon Modeling Steering Committee GHG subcommittee that continues to provide guidance on enhancing Oregon's GHG data and analysis capabilities.

VisionEval's novel model approach and its use in Oregon has garnered the following awards:

  • 2021 Zephyr Exceptional Technical Achievement Award - VisionEval Open Source models
  • 2015 FHWA Environmental Excellence Award - CAMPO Strategic Assessment Report 
  • 2013 AASHTO President's Transportation Award for Planning  - ODOT Statewide Transportation Strategy
  • 2010 AASHTO President's Transportation Award for Planning - GreenSTEP model development

​VisionEval is an open source common framework building on the successful GreenSTEP family of strategic planning tools.  A partnership with ODOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and others merged the related tools into a common open source framework called VisionEval, which makes it easier to share updates and collaborate on using the tool to support performance-based planning efforts across the country. As developer of the original GreenSTEP model from which VisionEval was derived, ODOT is a key partner in the FHWA-hosted VisionEval Pooled Fund that maintains, updates and shepherds the VisionEval model. These models have also been adapted for use by other states in the form of the FHWA's Energy and Emissions Reduction Policy Analysis Tool​. More information about the tool can be found here​. Portions of the model became the underlying basis of the SHRP2 C16 Rapid Policy Assessment Tool, or RPAT, formerly SmartGAP. A more detailed history of this family of tools can be found on the VisionEval website.

Contact

Email Tara Weidner
Telephone 503-986-4226​

For forecasting highway needs and to simulate system performance, the Transportation Planning Analysis Unit uses the Highway Economic Requirements System - State Version, or HERS-ST, software that the Federal Highway Administration provides.

The state highway system is evaluated for existing and future deficiencies based on various user defined criteria. Once deficiencies are identified, improvements are selected according to economical principles and then future system performances are simulated. The modeling analysis is bounded by funding level and future years analyzed. Output includes key system performance and improvement costs.

Resources

In-House Reports​

HERS-ST Data Development Template



Travel demand models are used for transportation project development, transportation planning and land use planning. To request a model run please use the form below.

Request for Travel Demand Model Run Form​​

​Oregon Travel Demand Models Map
Travel Demand Model Development and Application Guidelines
Passenger Vehicle Fuel Economy​

Resources

GHG Modeling and Analysis Tools Overview

Modeling Procedures Manual for Land Use Changes

Personal Travel in Oregon: A Snapshot of Daily Household Travel Patterns​

R Resources