Added a "Related Projects" heading containing a description of TRAGIS.

[dead/census-tools.git] / doc / project_overview / index.xhtml

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@@ -75,6 +75,22 @@
   </p>
 
   <ol>
+    <li>
+      Most of the application code is written in <a
+      href="http://www.python.org/">Python</a>, and so the Python
+      runtime is required to run it.
+
+      <ol>
+       <li>
+         We utilize a third-party library called <a
+         href="http://pypi.python.org/pypi/Shapely">Shapely</a> for
+         Python/GEOS integration. GEOS is required by PostGIS (see
+         below), so it is not listed as a separate requirement, even
+         though Shapely does depend on it.
+       </li>
+      </ol>
+    </li>
+
     <li>
       The build system utilizes <a
       href="http://www.gnu.org/software/make/">GNU Make</a>. The
@@ -198,8 +214,8 @@
   <p>
     <em>
       Note: the <a href="../../makefile">makefile</a> provides a task
-      for creation/import of the databases, but its use is strictly
-      required.
+      for creation/import of the databases, but its use is not
+      strictly required.
     </em>
   </p>
 
@@ -342,6 +358,47 @@
     may be worth evaluating the benefit of a GIN index versus the GiST
     one.
   </p>
+
   
+  <h2>Related Projects</h2>
+
+  <h3>Transportation Routing Analysis Geographic Information System (TRAGIS)</h3>
+  <p>
+    <a href="https://tragis.ornl.gov/">TRAGIS</a> is developed by the
+    Geographic Information Science &amp; Tech Group at Oak Ridge
+    National Laboratory. From the abstract,
+  </p>
+
+  <blockquote>
+    <p>
+      The Transportation Routing Analysis Geographic Information
+      System (TRAGIS) model is used to calculate highway, rail, or
+      waterway routes within the United States. TRAGIS is a
+      client-server application with the user interface and map data
+      files residing on the user’s personal computer and the routing
+      engine and network data files on a network server. The user’s
+      manual provides documentation on installation and the use of the
+      many features of the model.
+    </p>
+  </blockquote>
+
+  <p>
+    It is of interest to us because it provides routing subject to
+    HAZMAT and many other restrictions. Essentially, one provides
+    TRAGIS with starting point <strong>A</strong> and an end point
+    <strong>B</strong>; it then calculates the best route between
+    <strong>A</strong> and <strong>B</strong>, subject to a number of
+    constraints.
+  </p>
+
+  <p>
+    Unfortunately, TRAGIS is a client/server application. Most of the
+    interesting logic and data are stored on the server, to which we
+    don't have access. The <a
+    href="https://tragis.ornl.gov/TRAGISmanual.pdf">User Manual</a>
+    does provide some clues as to where they have obtained their data,
+    though.
+  </p>
+
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