Glossary
ATMS – Advanced Traffic Management Systems.
Calibration – Process where the analyst selects the model parameters that cause the model to best reproduce field-measured local traffic operations conditions.
Case – A single simulation for a specified traffic network as defined by its simulation input file. A case includes the simulation input file and all data files generated by the simulation during a run. Multiple runs of the simulation for gathering statistics is still considered part of a single case provided the input has not changed.
CID – Controller Interface Device. This is a hardware interface used to connect a signal controller to a computer running a traffic simulation.
Common Controls – A Microsoft component that supports the use of common graphical interface controls, e.g., a list box, within programs that run under the Windows operating systems.
COM – Component Object Model.
Component – An independent software application that can be easily integrated into other software applications or into a container program.
Component architecture – A software architecture in which a framework, called a container, supports the use and interaction of independent software components (tools)..
Container – A computer program composed of a framework that supports the use and interaction of independent software components.
CORDebug – This is the name of the debug version of the CORSIM Driver DLL. It is used for debugging RTEs.
CORSIM – CORridor SIMulation. A microscopic traffic simulation tool supported by the TSIS environment.
CORSIM Data Dictionary – This document contains a description of the CORSIM elements that are shared for access by code that resides outside of the CORSIM DLL.
CORSIM Driver – This is the name of the DLL that is installed as a tool in the TSIS package and is used to run the CORSIM simulation.
CORSIM Server – The CORSIM Server is an interface between the CORSIM Driver tool and the CORSIM DLL. The Server enables TSIS to run multiple simulations at one time.
CORWin – The CORWin interface provides a Windows interface between the CORSIM Server and the CORSIM DLL. It also serves as an interface between an RTE and the CORSIM Server, which enables the RTE to display messages in the CORSIM Driver tool.
DCOM – Distributed Component Object Model.
Destination folder – A user-specified folder (directory) to which the setup program will install the TSIS software or sample projects.
DLL – Dynamic-Link Library. In general, a DLL is a file that contains one or more functions that are compiled, linked, and stored separately from the processes that use them.
DOT – Department of Transportation.
Dynamic-link library – In general, a DLL is a file that contains one or more functions that are compiled, linked, and stored separately from the processes that use them.
Dynamic memory – Memory that is allocated while a process is running as opposed to statically allocated at the time a module is compiled and linked.
Exported functions – A function that resides in a DLL, but that made accessible (exported) to other processes.
FHWA – Federal Highway Administration. Sponsor for the development of the TSIS suite of traffic analysis tools.
FRESIM – FREeway SIMulation. The part of the CORSIM simulation that models freeway operations.
Graphical user interface – An interface between a user and a software tool, consisting of graphical elements and controls, e.g., windows, dialogs, buttons.
GUI – Graphical User Interface.
HOV – High Occupancy Vehicle. This term is generally used to describe roadway lanes (facilities) that are reserved for vehicles that contain more than one occupant (person).
HTML – Hypertext Markup Language is a system of marking up or tagging a document so that it can be published on the World Wide Web. It is used to display TSIS on-line help.
McTrans Center – A vendor that distributes and supports the TSIS software. For more information, please visit the McTrans web site at http://mctrans.ce.ufl.edu.
MDAC – Microsoft Data Access Components. The Microsoft Data Access Components architecture provides a universal framework for exposing both traditional SQL-based database sources and non-SQL data stores such as documents or multidimensional sources. In TSIS, MDAC supports the use of the TRF database.
MFC – Microsoft Foundation Classes. The C++ class library that Microsoft provides with its C++ compiler to assist programmers in creating Windows-based applications. MFC hides the fundamental Windows API in class hierarchies so that programmers can write a Windows-based application without needing to know the details of the native Windows API. TSIS and its components are built using MFC.
Microsimulation – Modeling of individual vehicle movements on a second or sub-second basis for the purpose of assessing the traffic performance of highway and street systems.
Model – A specific combination of modeling software and analyst-developed input parameters for a specific application. A single model may be applied to the same study area for several time periods and several existing and future improvement alternatives.
MOE – Measure of Effectiveness. An output measurement from a simulation tool used as a measure of the performance of the traffic flow on a network. Decision makers may use one or more key MOEs when deciding the optimum system design.
MS-DOS – Microsoft Disk Operating System. A Microsoft operating system that predates the Windows operating systems.
NETSIM – NETwork SIMulation. The part of the CORSIM simulation that models surface-street operations.
OCX – ActiveX control file. A component format used by the TSIS container.
PC-TRANS – A vendor that distributes and supports the TSIS software. For more information, please visit the PC-TRANS web site at http://www.kutc.ku.edu/pctrans.
PDF – Portable Document Format. A universal, portable document format developed by Adobe©. TSIS User Guides are distributed using this format.
PR – Problem Report.
Project – A set of simulation cases that reflect a common theme, e.g., signal timing variations for an artery in downtown Washington, D.C. See the definition for case.
RAM – Random Access Memory.
RTE – Run-Time Extension. A method by which a TSIS user can extend (or replace) functionality in the CORSIM simulation without having to modify, compile, and link the CORSIM code. It is typically used to modify/replace the signal control logic in CORSIM. See appendix L for more information on RTE.
Script Tool – The TSIS Script Tool is a combined script editor and tool for executing Visual Basic Scripts. Using the built-in TSIS interfaces, the Script Tool is a powerful mechanism for extending the functionality of the other TSIS components.
Shared memory – A mechanism by which CORSIM exports its memory for use by other processes such as run-time extensions.
Software – Set of computer instructions for assisting the analyst in the development and application of a specific microsimulation model. Several models can be developed using a single software program. These models will share the same basic computational algorithms embedded in the software; however, they will employ different input and parameter values.
System files – Microsoft support files, required by TSIS, that the TSIS setup program installs to the system directory of your computer. Because these files are used by a wide variety of Microsoft and other third-party software products, they are often already installed on your system. TSIS will only install the files if they do not exist or if the existing files are older than those needed by TSIS.
TCF – TSIS Configuration File. A file that defines a TSIS project and contains information about the project (e.g., project description and creator).
Text Editor – This editor is a standard text editor that has the additional capability of "understanding" the CORSIM TRF file format. When editing a TRF file with this editor, the TShell output window displays text describing the entry field and record type at the current cursor position. Clicking a specific field description in the output window highlights the corresponding entry field in the displayed TRF file.
Time step – The smallest unit of time at which CORSIM moves vehicles (updates vehicle positions). This is also the frequency at which CORSIM calls a run-time extension's main execution function.
TNO – Traffic Network Object. TNO is a file format used by the TRAFED network editor.
Tool – A program or component that is installed into the TSIS environment for use in conducting traffic operations analysis. A tool can be an application (EXE), Dynamic-Link Library (DLL), COM object or ActiveX Control (OCX), or a batch program (BAT).
TRAFED – TRAFED is a graphical user interface-based editor that allows you to easily create and edit traffic networks and simulation input for the CORSIM model.
TRAFVU – TRAFVU (TRAF Visualization Utility) is a user-friendly graphics post-processor that displays traffic networks, animates simulated traffic flow operations, animates and displays simulation output measures of effectiveness, and displays user-specified input parameters for simulated network objects.
TRF – A file that contains the input data used to define a CORSIM network and to drive the CORSIM simulation for a single simulation case.
Translator – A TSIS tool used to translate between the TRF and TNO file formats. It converts TRF files for use by TRAFED. The translator also performs the reverse operation of translating the TRAFED native format (TNO) files into TRF files for use by CORSIM and other tools.
TShell – The graphical user interface for the TSIS integrated development environment. It provides a Project view that enables you to manage your TSIS projects. It is also the container for the pre-configured tools and any tools that you add to the suite.
TSIS – Traffic Software Integrated System. TSIS is the integrated development environment that hosts the CORSIM simulation and its support tools.
Validation – Process where the analyst checks the overall model-predicted traffic performance for a street/road system against field measurements of traffic performance, such as traffic volumes, travel times, average speeds, and average delays. Model validation is performed based on field data not used in the calibration process. This report presumes that the software developer has already completed this validation of the software and its underlying algorithms in a number of research and practical applications.
VBS – Visual Basic Script. A file with a VBS extension that contains Visual Basic code. See definition of Visual Basic Script for more information.
Verification – Process where the software developer and other researchers check the accuracy of the software implementation of traffic operations theory. This report provides no information on software verification procedures.
Visual Basic Script – VBScript is a lightweight and extremely fast language engine designed specifically for environments like the Internet, intranets, or the World Wide Web.
