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ActivitySim - Activity-Based Modeling Platform
ActivitySim is everything you know and love about activity-based modeling. But better. Much better. Meet ActivitySim—a state-of-the-practice activity-based modeling platform that is always improving. It is open source, purpose-built, and grounded in the principles of collaboration and modern software engineering.
Trip-based models have been around for over half a century. In that time, they have improved in many ways. But their primary shortcoming—that they model trips independently of each other and not the people who make trips—can limit their ability to answer complex transportation planning questions. Activity-based models address this core limitation through the microsimulation of individuals and the generation of daily travel diaries and activity schedules. They model people and their choices, not just trips.
The advantages to activity-based modeling have been known for quite some time. But the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) saw an even deeper industry need. They created a consortium of member agencies to drive this project. Their mission? To build and maintain advanced, open-source, activity-based travel behavior modeling software based on best software development practices—and to do it at no charge to the public.
And, just like that, ActivitySim was born.
Open-source technology is a huge movement. That`s no secret. But an open-source activity-based modeling platform changes the very landscape of modeling. The deeper collaborative nature of ActivitySim being open source makes it state-of-the-practice and, perhaps even more impressively, means it is always improving. Each user has a say in its development and future direction.
You might be wondering how this works. It`s simple. As additional members join the ActivitySim consortium, the user base grows, there are more resources for enhancements, and development progresses. As this occurs, ActivitySim becomes even more robust.
This technological advancement then comes full circle, helping all the consortium members with its improvements. Members benefit in several ways:
Leverage activity-based modeling
ActivitySim models people and their choices—not just trips. Answer important questions about active modes, new technology, pricing, and equity—to name a few.
Receive continual updates
ActivitySim is on GitHub, the industry standard for collaborative, open-source software development. Members can contribute back to the platform.
Save money and time
ActivitySim development costs are shared. ActivitySim is purpose-built to run faster than its predecessors.
Guide ActivitySim`s development
Join a collaborative, continually improving platform and help guide future enhancements and updates (requires membership in the ActivitySim consortium). Learn from peers in the modeling industry.
Our implementations include both replacements for trip-based models as well as existing activity-based models. Here are just a few examples.
SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments). Our team worked with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments to develop a new activity-based model using ActivitySim that could more accurately capture and represent changing travel patterns and population levels. Read more in our case study »
CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning). RSG deployed ActivitySim as a replacement for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s existing activity-based model to take advantage of the reduced runtime and increased usability of ActivitySim over their existing model.