ParaCATS, Parallel Cellular Automata Traffic System, is a novel parallel software, which is the final outcome of my master thesis project, can perform a simulation-based dynamic traffic assignment in large area of a city in micro-scale. This software is based on combination of my last two researches for this project: Type-2 fuzzy system as the Route choice model and CATSIMS as the Dynamic network loading model. (For more information on the detail of each of please read the related articles)

This software is a Dynamic en-route assignment model for using in real-time traffic management systems with the power of Parallel Processing. A hybrid model of shared memory and distributed memory is implemented with OpenMP and MPICH. The network is divided into m sub-networks. Sub Networks are processed in different processing nod as distributed system. Each sub-network in each processing nod is simulated as shared memory system to reduce data transfer. Each sub-network communicates with other sub networks to exchange car and path data. In order to reduce data transfer an innovative idea which I call it “Virtual Transition Cells” is provided to for exchanging cars.

Paths are generated at the beginning of the simulation with a recursive algorithm. Then, they are divided into sub networks as sub-paths. Each sub-network only has information about its own sub paths and the connection between its sub paths with other sub path in other sub networks. At the certain times of data transferring, only the required sub path data is transferred. This method reduces the amount memory usage in each processing nod and data transfer between them. Moreover, In order to reduce memory usage of the program in any processing nod, advanced memory management is implemented.

I am going to test this software on Isfahan, the second largest city of Iran by the Information which is provided by Rahshahr Company.

The software is available in Linux and Windows operating systems.