Early on we commited ourselves to strengthen our modeling capability at several scales, considering that our models were first and foremost to improve our own knowledge of the system behavior, as a pre-requisite to produce forecast of future behavior

Under such a thinking framework, we have pioneered several approaches such as:

• Utilization of GIS systems, transporte demand 4-Step models and traffic microscopic models as chained sequence, with feedback
• Transport and economic accessibility per mode, as a prerequisite prior to full 4-Step model running
• Estimation of several logit models through revealed preferences
• Trendlines of the basic indicators
• Logit path-choice models for highwahy assignment of toll roads with several user types and trip purposes
• Calibration and validation of demand models with the inclusion of back-casting exercises
• Application of macro, meso and micro scales of traffic depending on the needs of the project at hand
• Application of Scenario Planning to examine the robustness of our transport proposals vis a vis the uncertainty associated to pattern breaks of major input variables and assumptions
• Definition of sub-models to avoid the use of exogenous variables, which not only influence the model results, but are also i influenced by the overall model
• Examination of the processes from Here to There, recognizing that the equilibrium points associated to the demand model results may face irreversibilities

Our use of commercial tools has always been very flexible, having licenses from several sofware suppliers so as to customize the tool to the job at hand, thus benefitting of the competitive advantages of each tool or approach

Our long experience with demand models is that we do not have to resort to the estimation of o-d matrices based on counts thanks to having well calibrated models of the areas where we have worked. This modeling background and long experience allows us to examine the future based on alternaive images of such future by using our models under different visions thanks to Scenario Planning, rather than using simple Fratar approaches of a few demand matrices

We have properly calibrated models for all the Basque Cities and Metropolitan areas, as well as for the Basque Country as a whole with a 3,000 plus centroids. We have models as well for Navarre, La Rioja and Murcia. We have also developped default values which are applicable to most Spanish cities

On the other hand, we have experience based on the work of one of our staff members in the States, United Kingdom, San Juan de Puerto Rico and Buenos Aires, as well as latest information of recent developments on this challenging field

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