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📖 Data Dictionaries

Reference Guide

Comprehensive field definitions and standardized codes for all CTRAMP output files. Essential reference for data analysis and model interpretation.

🎯 Overview

The CT-RAMP (Coordinated Travel-Regional Activity Modeling Platform) generates standardized output files with consistent data structures. This reference ensures proper interpretation of:

  • 🚗 Transportation modes and choices
  • 🎯 Travel purposes and activities
  • 🗺️ Geographic zone systems
  • 📊 Common field definitions

Output Files

Core Person and Household Data

  • Household Data - Household demographic and socioeconomic characteristics
  • Person Data - Individual person attributes and characteristics

Location Choice Results

Travel Pattern Data

  • Individual Tours - Person-level tour generation and characteristics (57 fields)
  • Individual Trips - Trip segments within individual tours (19 fields)
  • Joint Tours - Household joint tour coordination and planning (51 fields)
  • Joint Trips - Trip segments within joint household tours (18 fields)

Common Data Elements

🚗 Mode Dictionary

Standardized Across All Files

The 17-mode transportation dictionary is used consistently across all travel output files.

ID Mode Description 💡 Notes
1 SOV_GP Single Occupant Vehicle - General Purpose Standard freeway/arterial
2 SOV_PAY Single Occupant Vehicle - Express/Toll Premium lanes
3 SR2_GP Shared Ride 2 - General Purpose 2-person carpool
4 SR2_HOV Shared Ride 2 - HOV lanes 2+ HOV access
5 SR2_PAY Shared Ride 2 - Express/Toll Premium 2-person
6 SR3_GP Shared Ride 3+ - General Purpose 3+ person carpool
7 SR3_HOV Shared Ride 3+ - HOV lanes 3+ HOV access
8 SR3_PAY Shared Ride 3+ - Express/Toll Premium 3+ person
ID Mode Description 💡 Access Type
9 WLK_TRN Walk to Transit Pedestrian access
10 PNR_TRN Park-and-Ride to Transit Drive + park
11 KNRPRV_TRN Kiss-and-Ride Private Drop-off by private vehicle
12 KNRTNC_TRN Kiss-and-Ride TNC Drop-off by rideshare
ID Mode Description 💡 Use Case
13 WLK_LOC Walk Local pedestrian trips
14 BIKE_LOC Bicycle Local bike trips
15 TAXI Taxi Traditional taxi service
16 TNC Transportation Network Company Uber, Lyft, etc.
17 SCHLBUS School Bus K-12 student transport

🎯 Purpose Classifications

Activity-Based Modeling

Travel purposes reflect the activity-based modeling approach, categorizing trips by their underlying activity motivation.

🎯 Purpose Description 📝 Examples
💼 Work Employment-related travel Commuting, work meetings, business trips
🏫 School K-12 education travel Elementary/high school commute, school activities
🎓 University Higher education travel College/university commute, campus activities
🛒 Shop Shopping and errands Grocery, retail, personal services
🔧 Maintenance Personal business Banking, medical, government services
🎉 Discretionary Social & recreational Dining, entertainment, visiting friends

Geographic Identifiers

  • TAZ - Traffic Analysis Zone (regional level)
  • MAZ - Micro Analysis Zone (detailed level, ~40,000 zones)
  • TAP - Transit Access Point

Data Verification Notes

All documentation has been verified against actual model output files from the 2015-tm22-dev-sprint-04 model run. Field counts, value ranges, and data structures reflect real model outputs rather than theoretical specifications.

File Relationships

The output files are interconnected through common identifiers:

  • Tours link to persons via person_id
  • Trips link to tours via tour_id
  • Joint tours coordinate multiple household members
  • Location choice results inform tour destination modeling

Usage Guidelines

When working with CTRAMP output data:

  1. Use consistent mode and purpose dictionaries across analyses
  2. Verify field structures against current model version
  3. Account for missing values and data quality flags
  4. Consider temporal relationships in tour and trip sequencing