What's New in TS/PP-Draft version 5.0

The following things have changed since version 4.0 of TS/PP-Draft:

• You may now put Annotations on the diagram window -- notes of any length, in any font size and style, anywhere on the diagram.
• In the Options dialog, you now have greater control over the Layout of the Diagram. You may label the Splits with either arrows or two-letter abbreviations. You may display the Offset on staggered lines below the intersection names or next to the Offset Reference Point in the diagram to reduce clutter. You may show just one band in each direction, and you may color-fill the bands to make then stand out. You can show minor Time Markers (ticks or grid lines) in addition to the regular (major) time markers.
• Offsets are no longer constrained to reference a movement along the arterial in the diagram -- they may reference movements along the crosseet.
• It is now easier to set and manage split-phasing with the new protected phase sequence options "Split-Lead" and "Split-Lag".
• Printing and general operation under Windows 2000 and Windows XP has improved.

Travel Time and Delay Studies:

The biggest new features kick in if you have access (or can get access) to a GPS receiver. Just connect a compatible GPS receiver to your computer and let TS/PP-Draft track position and speed and use this information for many purposes:

• Determine the geographic positions of intersection. From this, TS/PP-Draft can

• Calculate the distance between intersections, and
• Lay out the Network View with high accuracy.

• Track your current location in time and space and display it on the diagram window and in the Network View.
• Predict whether you will arrive at the next signal during the green time. If you wish, it will play different sounds to indicate you're projected to arrive a bit early or late, or a bit too early or too late.
• Record Trip Logs of travel along the artery. Trip Logs can be used to

• Plot trajectories on the diagram windows, graphically showing where delay occurs, which signals you're stopped at, and where you enter or leave the green bands. Before and after trip logs may be recorded in the same diagram data file, and you may select which ones are visible at any moment.
• Prepare Travel Time and Delay Reports, which can easily be copied and pasted into word-processing documents or spreadsheets for detailed analysis. These can be very powerful tools of analysis for determining the effectiveness of a timing plan.
• Measure the actual travel distance between intersections.
• Calculate the "optimal" relative offset between intersections for a given direction of travel.
• Calculate the actual average speed between intersections.
• Calculate the start-up lost time.

A sample diagram data file included with version 5.0 shows Trip Logs plotted as trajectories and available for the Travel Time and Delay Reports and other calculations.

Compatible GPS receivers include any receiver that complies with the NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) 0183 Standard and the (serial cable version of the) Earthmate from DeLorme (available for around $125). The majority of GPS receivers comply with the NMEA 0183 Standard. TS/PP-Draft has been tested with GPS receivers from Magellan and Garmin and they all work great for the most part. DeLorme now has a USB version of the Earthmate. I doubt this GPS receiver will work with TS/PP-Draft, but I have not tried it, so I'm not sure. See my recommendations for GPS receivers for more information.

You may now order with a credit card.