Editorial

Aegerten, October 1992

In this issue of EMME/2 NEWS, you'll find an overview of the many new features that have been added to EMME/2 during the last year. At the origin of many of these new developments are ideas and suggestions which were brought up by devoted users in the Q&A sessions of the recent user group meetings, or which were communicated to us directly by users caring about the future of EMME/2. Feedback from the user community is always the major driving force for new developments, regardless of whether it is in the form of critical remarks, questions, vague hints or concrete suggestions. Thus, let me take this opportunity to thank all of you for sharing with us your ideas and visions - and let me assure you that we keep listening!

Heinz Spiess, Editor

Montreal, October 1992

Over the past few months we have kept busy with finalizing the development, testing and documentation of Release 6 of EMME/2, which is the main subject of this issue of EMME/2 News. As usual, some of the new features respond to the expressed needs of the user community and others represent powerful new analysis and modeling capabilities, which open up new areas of application. From the many enhancements implemented in this release it is worthy to mention two major ones: the new ``extra'' attributes which supplement the three user data items for the nodes, links and transit lines for each scenario; and the new multiclass auto equilibrium assignment, which opens up a wide variety of new applications in modeling road networks with traffic restrictions or tolls in an elegant, efficient and theoretically correct way. However there are many other exciting new features. After reading the contents of this issue, I am sure that you will share with us the great satisfaction that we have with this release.

With each new release, EMME/2 is offering more possibilities for varied and imaginative approaches for urban transportation modeling and planning. The User's Manual is always a good basis for becoming familiar with the wide range of analyses that can be carried out with EMME/2, however we often find that not all possible uses can be so documented. In addition to the technical support provided to our users, which sometimes deals with modeling questions, we intend to offer, on a regular basis, courses and workshops for new and experienced users. We will announce the schedule for these courses and workshops in the very near future.

Until you hear from us again, or meet us at one of the future User Group Meetings, we wish you productive use of Release 6.

Michael Florian
President, INRO Consultants Inc.