Dynamics of Intergovernmental Networks
Figure 4 . Transition state-chart for the agent class of “ projects ” ( pseudo code is shown in the boxes for the key transitions between the six life cycle states ).
studies ( project engineering phase in Figure 4 ). The VTtans agent according to multiple criteria presented in Table 1 above ranks projects with completed feasibility studies . Figure 4 shows this only for roadway projects .
If a roadway project is prioritized at this stage , it goes through right-of-way ( ROW ) approval and then , if funding is available from relevant federal programs and if state and local government matching funds are available , the project is approved for construction phase . Overall , the ABM module of the computer simulation model for roadway ( shown in Figure 4 ) and other project classes captures this “ funneling ” effect of a sub-sample of initially identified transportation projects that go through three project phases ( feasibility , ROW , and construction ). Duration and cost parameters for each of the three phases ( feasibility , ROW , and construction ), estimated from the STIP database , are shown in Figure 4 . Furthermore , structurally , this project class loop in the ABM also captures the delays and the formation of old project queues that are empirically observed in the VTrans STIP database . The delays and queues across projects can be manipulated by varying the “ duration ” parameters in Table 3 under the project class .
The 600 local town agents in the ABM contain the environment of the projects and keep track of the transportation projects that arise over time on stochastic basis ( modeled as a uniform probabilistic function to preserve the stochastic randomness ). The 11 RPC agents keep track of their local town agents , as well as rank the transportation projects that are
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