Time Distance – Omni

Overview: Computes Acceleration/Deceleration factors and rates, Time, Distance, and/or Speed as appropriate based on supplied information. This module will create a table of user-developed research data (pedestrian/vehicle study) for speed, time, distance and/or acceleration/deceleration rates, which automatically integrates into the Statistical Range (Monte Carlo) module in REC-TEC allowing additional analysis (mean, range, variance, upper and lower bounds).

Entry into Module:

This module of the program is normally entered by clicking on the REC-TEC block in the upper left of the REC-TEC Window. The drop-down menu will appear. Place the cursor on the Time - Distance block and click on Time – Distance – Omni on the sub-menu to initiate this module. This module may also be called using the link under Tools.

This module does all of the basic computations of the Acceleration/Deceleration Factor, Acceleration Single Surface and Deceleration Single Surface modules of the program in a single module. It now provides for Graphics, Iteration and Finite Difference Analysis. It does not provide for Lateral Distance (Swerve / Lane Change) computations, Grade, or Braking adjustments.

Under certain circumstances, the user may choose to use the Files block instead of the drop-down menu approach. Selecting any file with a .TCB extension in the Dialog box accessed from either the Open Single File or Open Multiple Files block opens this module.

Selecting AutoLoad [ON] from either the Setup Menu or the AutoLoad Icon on the upper right side (third line) of the REC-TEC Window automatically loads the scenario that was on the screen when the module was closed, either individually, or when the program was closed. With AutoLoad [OFF] on the main REC-TEC Window, modules will start without loading a file.

Data Entry:

This section has settings for:

· Acceleration

· Deceleration

· Constant Velocity

This section contains five data entry blocks within the leftmost frame:

· Factor

· Distance

· Time

· Speed (Initial)

· Speed (Final)

Entry of specific (known) data in the data boxes sufficient to generate an answer causes output information to appear in the Output frame. As the input data is changed, the output data is automatically updated without the need to tell the program to update the output.

Output:

The output from this module consists of the repeated input variables plus all of the unknowns that were not entered into the left Input frame expressed in the primary and secondary configurations as selected in the Setup > REC-TEC menu. If an acceleration (or deceleration), either as entered or as computed, was not from an initial speed of zero, the times and distances are shown for both the event as defined with the input variables and from a stop.

Options:

Several Command Buttons appear in a frame located at the lower right corner of the module Window. The Command Buttons allow the user to engage options including a Stop Watch or Timer that may be engaged using either the mouse or the Enter key and the option to Open and Save the data required to generate the scenario shown on the screen at the time the file was saved as well as the Data Table.

· Open .TCB File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Opens any pre-existing .TCB file and displays the output results.

· Save .TCB File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Saves data on the screen to files with any user-selectable filenames. This is independent of the automatic saving as “LastFile.TCB” of the data at the close of this module or the close of the program.

· Iteration/Finite Difference Analysis – Calls up a frame that permits the user to input the minimum and maximum values for selected input variables along with the interval for Iteration. If Finite Difference Analysis (FDA) is selected, the resulting analysis computes the uncertainty level for the specified range of the input variables.

For a more in-depth description of Finite Difference Analysis, see the Finite Difference Analysis Section of this Manual – Press [F2] from any Active module of the program.

· Timer – Activates the Timer configuration allowing the use of the Start Timer and Stop Timer Buttons. Activation of the Timer using this button turns off the on-the-fly computations, which will allow changes to the Time or other Inputs that the automatic computations may try to override if the module is in on-the-fly mode.

• Graphics – Displays the graphics curves for Time (with scales) on the upper half and Distance (with scales) on the lower half of the screen. The right and left scales show the Speed. [Esc] to Exit

· Start Timer – Starts the Timer using either the mouse or the Enter key if Active.

· Stop Timer – Stops the Timer using either the mouse or the Enter key.

· View Data Table – Displays table of Arrays added to Data Table. Selecting one of the Buttons at the Heading Label for a Column automatically creates an output file (TDOmni.RCM) that can be loaded by the Statistical Range (Monte Carlo) module.

· Add Data to Data Table – Adds currently displayed data to Data Table.

· Data Table Averages – Displays Data Table Element Averages for All Entries.

· Range – Monte Carlo – Transfers selected data to Range – Monte Carlo module and also creates a comma-delimited textfile that can be loaded into Excel. This file can be viewed by going to Files>Table Output Files from the REC-TEC Menu bar.

· Delete Last Array – Deletes the last array added to the datable. Repeated use will erase all of the entries in the data table.

· N – This button toggles a graphical number pad on the screen that can be used to enter data into the input boxes without using your keyboard number pad. This may be useful for presentations as data entry can be accomplished using a wired/wireless mouse.