We are pleased to announce that EMME/2 has been ported to run directly on Intel 80286 based personal computers equipped with Intel 80287 mathematical co-processors, i.e. on IBM PC/AT or compatible computers. This version of EMME/2 is functionally identical with those on mainframe, mini-computers and PC's equipped with DSI co-processor boards. Utilities for producing EMME/2 plots on dot-matrix printers, laser printers and pen plotters are included with the system, as well as are drivers for a mouse and a digitizing tablet (MM-series, Bit Pad 2 series). This EMME/2 version is dimensioned to handle problems of up to 200 zones, 1250 nodes, 4000 links, 150 transit lines and 5000 transit stops.
With the increased speed offered by the new 20 MHz version of the DSI-780 co-processor board, INRO is now offering PC based EMME/2 systems with even larger dimensions. In addition to the 400, 600 and 800 zone versions that were introduced in March 1987, new 1000 zone and 1200 zone systems are available for use on the DSI-780 co-processor board. This means that PC based EMME/2 systems can now handle problems all the way up to 1200 zones, 7500 nodes, 24000 links, 900 transit lines and 30000 transit stops!
The table below lists the CPU times required to run an iteration of the car assignment and a transit assignment on the standard EMME/2 Winnipeg demonstration data base. (The DSI-780 times reported in the EMME/2 News of March 1987 were obtained on a board running at 16.7 Mhz)
| Computer Model | Processor | Auto Assignment | Transit Assignment |
| IBM PC/AT (*) | Intel 80286/80287 8MHz | 262.50 sec | 1193.4 sec |
| DSI-780 on IBM AT | Motorola 68020/68881 20MHz | 51.1 sec | 135.7 sec |
(*): These times depend on the speed and the type of the processor: on 10, 12 or 16 Mhz AT compatibles and on 80386 based PC's significantly better times will be obtained.
These new versions of the EMME/2 software will be available for delivery from INRO starting April 1. Consult your local distributor or INRO consultants for more detailed information on corresponding license prices and DSI-780+/4Mb 20 Mhz co-processor boards.
As the number of EMME/2 users increases, so is the workload of INRO staff. In order to support the increased needs INRO has acquired SUN-3 workstations that will be equipped with a laser printer. One of the more visible benefits for the EMME/2 users will be a new version of the EMME/2 User's Manual which will be produced on a laser printer. We expect that the new manual will be available in July 1988.