NAM Traffic Simulator and Data View Support Thread

[z1 566]

Ah, I see that CaptCity has just posted while I was writing this. This example may help clarify what he said though.

It is very easy to use the traffic simulators on a Mac. For example, for Simulator Z, pick exactly one file from the distribution that begins "NetworkAddonMod_Traffic_Plugin_Z_" and install it in your NAM folder. You should use no other files that begin "NetworkAddonMod_Traffic_Plugin_". Also, be sure to install the corresponding data view file; in this case, it begins "NetworkAddonMod_Volume_Data_View_Z_" and ends with the same capacity level as your traffic simulator. As with the traffic simulator, all other data views should be deleted. (The file "NetworkAddonMod_Zone_Data_View.dat" is a completely different file, though; install it if you want the new NAM Zones view.)

[jackreid 0]

Thanks for the incredibly quick and helpful replies guys!

[Oliwerko 0]

Hi there, I have a question:

Which capacity is considered to be "realistic"? Or let me put it another way (since I well know that if there was one, it would be a default one): I want to go a golden middle way. I have a balance between big and small cities. Which one should I use?

I am also using RTMT, and my guess is to use Simulator Z Medium + High capacity RTMT stations. Is this correct?

My point is that I don't want to simply switch to a higher capacity when it's not necessary (in order to force myself to construct better networks).

Also, I hear that congestion is not literally "bad", because then the commuters take another route, which may be shorter. Does this mean that's it's perfectly OK to have red squares ?

Thanks for advice, it's very valued.

[z1 566]

Originally posted by: Oliwerko

Which capacity is considered to be "realistic"?quote>

It depends both on the size of your city and how much mass transit it has.  Cities with more mass transit require a lower capacity simulator.  Basically, a realistic capacity is one that produces a realistic amount of congestion in your particular city.

I am also using RTMT, and my guess is to use Simulator Z Medium + High capacity RTMT stations. Is this correct?quote>

For you, that sounds like a good mix to me.  And you can always switch your traffic simulator at any time with no negative consequences if you don't like it.

Also, I hear that congestion is not literally "bad", because then the commuters take another route, which may be shorter. Does this mean that's it's perfectly OK to have red squares ?quote>

Not completely.  The first part of your statement is true, and congestion isn't as harmful in Simulator Z as in previous simulators, as it won't result in massive abandonment due to commute time.  But there still are some penalties.  Please see Challenge and the Traffic Simulator for more details.

Thanks for advice, it's very valued.quote>

You're welcome!

[Oliwerko 0]

Thanks for fast and accurate response, the post you linked to hit the right spot.

Thanks again. 

[z1 566]

As of the May 2010 NAM release, Simulator Z has become the NAM Unified Traffic Simulator, or NAM Simulator for short. The introductory post has been updated to reflect the changes that went into this upgrade.

[Mike1814 0]

I've decide to use the configuration tool to help the commute time (I might get rid of it to see what happens) while I like the the highway usage was increased, it seemed like my capacity decreased because I constantly run into congestion problems (note the commute scale is set to .015;setting it lower it didn't help matters). I would try to increase mass transit but that is at the end of its rope too.

[z1 566]

Originally posted by: Mike1814

I've decide to use the configuration tool to help the commute time (I might get rid of it to see what happens) while I like the the highway usage was increased, it seemed like my capacity decreased because I constantly run into congestion problems (note the commute scale is set to .015;setting it lower it didn't help matters). I would try to increase mass transit but that is at the end of its rope too.quote>

Could you please post a screen shot of your congestion view, as well as a screen shot of the Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool, showing your current settings?

Adjusting the Commute Time Graph scaling constant doesn't affect anything except the numbers on the graph.

The problems with NWM are unrelated to the traffic simulator; you should post your question about this in the NAM General Discussion Thread - 2nd Edition.

[Mike1814 0]

Originally posted by: z1

Wel

Originally posted by: Mike1814

I've decide to use the configuration tool to help the commute time (I might get rid of it to see what happens) while I like the the highway usage was increased, it seemed like my capacity decreased because I constantly run into congestion problems (note the commute scale is set to .015;setting it lower it didn't help matters). I would try to increase mass transit but that is at the end of its rope too.quote>

Could you please post a screen shot of your congestion view, as well as a screen shot of the Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool, showing your current settings?

Adjusting the Commute Time Graph scaling constant doesn't affect anything except the numbers on the graph.

The problems with NWM are unrelated to the traffic simulator; you should post your question about this in the NAM General Discussion Thread - 2nd Edition.

quote>

Well I didn't save it just because to was too bad. But I could to it again to show you what I'm talking about. But to configuration tool is pretty much the default of the Z ultra but I'll show that to you later on too.

[Aldini10 14]

I don't use my traffic simulator tool. Just use Persistent Automata mod. Just right.

*edit* -10,000th viewer!-

[Sere 0]

I love NAM <3

But I dislike commute time graph, how to get rid of it? I liked the old numbers. Like now it says 3000 and my commute time was about 30!

[z1 566]

If you're using the current NAM with the current traffic simulator, you should never get numbers as high as 3000. Which version of the NAM and which traffic simulator are you using?

As a side note, the commute time graph is intrinsically inaccurate (with or without the NAM); at best, it will give you an approximation of the average commute time, and at worst, the numbers it shows will be way off. With the current NAM traffic simulator, commute time is not very important anyway; it's much more important to see what routes your Sims are taking and how congested these routes are.

[Sere 0]

I have the latest NAM and custom simulator made with the new program that came with NAM. I like new NAM and that new program.

But im getting commute times 3000-4000. Before installing latest, I was using old A that i had tweaked, and there was no commute time graph modifications there. And my commute time was about 30. Skyrocketed after installing Z.

I like the Maxis commute time graph. I think it's accurate in a way that it shows average commute time. Now I really can't read this 3000 what does it mean?

Could you please tell me what do I need to change in simulator file to restore commute time graph? I really do want to have the Maxis way, im sorry

Thank you for all your hard efforts for the benefit of the playing community.

[Sere 0]

Would it be possible to get Maxis minutes back?

[z1 566]

Do you have a city with an extremely large volume of traffic traveling to neighboring cities?  That could explain your results, as the Maxis commute graph (which is what you've actually got) blows up in such situations.  In such a case, the reason you wouldn't have seen this before is that the new traffic simulator allows much longer commutes than the old Maxis one.  Nevertheless, the 3000 number is clearly ridiculous - it means that the Sims spend more than two days commuting to work one way, each and every day.

You mention the custom simulator, so you may already have the Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool.  If you don't, you can get it as part of the NAM Traffic Subsystem.

In the Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool, you can reset the commute graph scaling so that you get the Maxis commute graph with its original scaling.  Just change the Commute Time Graph Scaling Factor from .015 to 1.  This will give you the exact, original Maxis commute time graph.  But I don't think that this is what you want.  Changing this setting to 1 will increase your commute time from 3000 to 200,000.   This means that it will take your Sims four and a half months just to get to work each day.

Instead, you can change this scaling factor to its lowest value:  .001.  This will change your commute time to 200, or a little over three hours, but that may now be approximately correct for your city if you have all that intercity traffic, which is the only reason I can see for getting that 3000 number in the first place.

Basically, the commute time in all versions of this graph varies in a nonlinear fashion based on how much intercity traffic you have.  SC4 has no idea what the total commute time is for intercity commuters (the information just isn't there).  However, the nonlinear formula it uses to calculate this number is virtually guaranteed to be incorrect, and it's generally way too high.  This is why I advise people not to pay attention to this graph.  BTW, Tropod gave the same advice years ago for the same reasons, and he was referring to the original Maxis commute time graph.

[z1 566]

I've noticed that many people don't what the traffic simulator does, or even that they have a traffic simulator. Yet they have traffic problems, and so most of the posts that should go into this thread go into isolated thread on this board that quickly fall off the bottom of the page. So the same questions get asked repeatedly while the answers get effectively lost.

Most of those questions should be asked in this thread, but aren't. Compounding this problem is the fact that many people are understandably confused about the difference between the NAM as a whole and the NAM traffic simulator.

To address all of these problems, I am considering shortening the name of this thread to "NAM Traffic and Data View Support Thread". Comments?

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

That would probably help people find this thread.

You could also try a completely new thread that serves as an NAM Traffic and Data View FAQ. It would keep you from having to repeatedly answer those questions.

It would keep people from having to weave through other info (i.e., puzzle pieces, future updates, RHW) to find Traffic Sim/Data View support.  Then this thread could be reserved for questions that aren't on that new thread.

[phs 0]

I just downloaded this mod but it made the Environment bar plummet into red.  Any help ?

[z1 566]

What are your air pollution levels? Are you using any type of radical air pollution mod?

[phs 0]

Not using any mods apart from the traffic one.

Screenshot of pollution level after installation of traffic simulator attached.

Mind you that this city has barely 5k population and industry is minimal.

[z1 566]

Nothing in either the traffic simulator or the NAM creates pollution. In fact, the traffic simulator actually reduces vehicle pollution. However, in combination with a radical pollution mod, this can cause what you see. I think that you probably have a radical pollution mod installed without realizing it. Some parks on the STEX act as radical pollution mods, and I don't think that they even all tell you that.

Once you get into a situation like this, though, it's often difficult or impossible to reverse it. Since the city is only 5K in size, I'd recommend starting a new city and watching the pollution carefully. Save your city often, especially before plopping custom content. If you see pollution either take off or drop to zero after plopping something, you'll know what's causing it.

[phs 0]

How do I check if I have a pollution mod installed ?  I doubt it though since I bought the game last week and only learned about mods a couple of days ago.  The only one that interested me was the traffic one.

[z1 566]

Originally posted by: phs

How do I check if I have a pollution mod installed ?  I doubt it though since I bought the game last week and only learned about mods a couple of days ago.  The only one that interested me was the traffic one.quote>

Under those circumstances, it seems most likely that you didn't install the main patch to this game.  This patch is required for almost everything.  You can find directions for it and other useful Maxis downloads in  Get your Maxis files here!.  You don't have to uninstall the traffic simulator before installing the patch, which is called Update 1 in that thread.

[hartza76 0]

hi,

im pretty new on this site and i have played lots of different sim in my years. Bought finaly the SC4DL from steam

and found this NAM  found it intresting and trying to give a go.

i have installed nam on under sc4 in steam and used the traffic simulator tool and saved settings-->

then what ? how do i see that they are in use in my game, i dont see any difference basically?

Also i understood that if i wand the RHM and others i have to install them separately offcourse?

Installation instructions are okayis in detail(bit too much actually) but after that its get bit confusing how to activated the MOD--> ie i got the Traffic Simulator install pop-up after second install of NAM mod not on first go.

Thanks in advace

[z1 566]

Originally posted by: hartza76

i have installed nam on under sc4 in steam and used the traffic simulator tool and saved settings-->

then what ? how do i see that they are in use in my game, i dont see any difference basically?quote>

The settings are often fairly subtle.  The traffic simulator always uses perfect pathfinding, so changing the settings won't affect how easily the Sims can find jobs.  The most visible effect would be if you change the simulators network capacities; this will show up in the amount of congestion in your city, which in turn has subtler effects.

Also i understood that if i wand the RHM and others i have to install them separately offcourse?quote>

Yes, the RHW, NWM, SAM, STR, and additional bridges need to be installed separately.  (I think I got them all..)  Some of these such as the RHW are rather complex, so you might want to get the feel of the game first before adding on everything all at once.

[hartza76 0]

Yeah maybe its just me that did miss some mark or noticeable thing that makes clear that i have mod in use. example i play X3TC adds when using mods **Modified you cant miss it

Jup, i have played SC4 actually on many ocassion in over the years after it was release, but really didnt own copy of it. on Lan partys i used to play it a lot in friend comps.

Just that those some network adds really give lot new possibilies to add sub/rail network, ie. basic game is lacking sub to terrain train transit, it has the sub to elevated train that i just cant understand .

and yes i actually now played serval hours one of my cities and i did notice that the trafic is more green on the trafic menu not so much red but on really heavily congested roads.

i used high settings on the setuping tool for city. offcourse my biggest city is only 77k people now.

seem that after 50k its pretty hard to get lot of people in city if you dont know how to attrack big buildings easily and etc. etc.

So i need to practise my building/security/education and other skills too, cos my problem start to be that i run out of space  on 50-70k mark. yYou can have 30k people in 30 mins in game or faster if you know what to do.

And typic of these kind of game may play few week like hell and then keep 6months to 1year brakes and then return them again.

Thanks for the reply again.

regards

xp76

[Sandbox 0]

on the traffic simulater i noticed that the capacities for roads and avenues are the same. was this intentional? cause i would think the avenues would have a slightly higher capacity

[Sandbox 0]

on the traffic simulater i noticed that the capacities for roads and avenues are the same. was this intentional? cause i would think the avenues would have a slightly higher capacity

[ScottFTL 29]

Originally posted by: Sandbox

on the traffic simulater i noticed that the capacities for roads and avenues are the same. was this intentional? cause i would think the avenues would have a slightly higher capacityquote>

It is intentional, but you have to remember that the capacities are applied per tile.  This means that a 1-tile road has half the capacity of a 2-tile avenue.

[ScottFTL 29]

Originally posted by: Sandbox

on the traffic simulater i noticed that the capacities for roads and avenues are the same. was this intentional? cause i would think the avenues would have a slightly higher capacityquote>

It is intentional, but you have to remember that the capacities are applied per tile.  This means that a 1-tile road has half the capacity of a 2-tile avenue.