Pre-release of Opus and UrbanSim 4

Dear UrbanSim Users,

A "pre-release" version of our Open Platform for Urban Simulation (Opus)
and UrbanSim 4 is now available for download. Opus and UrbanSim are
bundled in the same download. Download and installation instructions
are in the "Reference Manual and User Guide" at
http://www.urbansim.org/opus.

NOTE: We are releasing this for people who want to start examining and
understanding Opus and UrbanSim 4. However, the code and documentation
continue to change on a daily basis. If you are considering using it in
production use, you might want to wait until our 1.0 release (scheduled
for June 30).

Some significant chacteristics:
- A complete re-write (in Python, not Java).
- Much easier to experiment with models and variables.
- Much easier to create new models, variables, and indicators.
- Much easier to estimate models.
- Has run manager tools, e.g. to re-start simulations.
- Baseyear data requirements very similar to UrbanSim 3.
- New design for developer model (projects now choose locations).
- Has been extensively tested on the Puget Sound region.
- Includes framework for user-contributed packages.
- Includes 20 models used for the Puget Sound region.
- Core code and model code is quite stable.
- Supports multiple storage formats.
- Has lag variables.

Caveats:
- Documentation is changing daily.
- Need to document how to convert UrbanSim 3 data to UrbanSim 4 format.
- Documentation needs more extensive index.
- Database table documentation not up to date.
- Code for running simulations continues to evolve daily.
- No graphical user interface (yet).
- Currently only supports MySQL database server.
 
David Socha
Center for Urban Simulation and Policy Analysis
University of Washington
www.urbansim.org
206 616-4495
Received on Fri Jun 02 2006 - 10:47:57 PDT