The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) seeks a qualified candidate to join the Office of Modeling and Analysis. The Office of Modeling and Analysis develops and maintains DVRPC’s regional travel simulation models, including a best-in-class trip-based model and a newly developed activity-based model, and applies the models to support a wide range of studies, from traditional highway and transit alternatives analysis to emerging economic impact and resilience analysis. The Office is also actively engaged in integrating open-source and big data for model development and analysis.
The employee will assist the development, maintenance, and enhancement of DVRPC’s regional travel models, and support model applications for various projects undertaken by the agency. Assignments may include programming to support model development and data analysis, conducting and analyzing travel surveys; preparing travel model inputs such as land use, transportation network characteristics, and demographic and employment data; estimating future transportation system demand for long range plans and the design of individual highway and transit facilities; and calculating operational statistics such as travel time, delay, and level-of-service.
This position involves working with public and private sector agencies, decision-makers, and the general public. Work is performed in accordance with well-defined objectives and professional standards under the close technical direction of senior engineers and planners. Qualified candidates should possess solid analytical skills, be detailed-oriented and self-motivated, and have the ability to multi-task.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist in the development, calibration, validation, and documentation of transportation and land use forecasting models.
- Write computer programs and scripts needed for travel simulations and data analysis.
- Design and conduct various types of travel surveys and data collection for model updates and individual highway and transit studies.
- Support model applications, analyze and summarize model outputs, and present findings and recommendations to technical committees and the public.
- Provide other technical assistance, as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Solid analytical and quantitative skills.
- Hands-on experience with Python, C#, or other programming languages.
- Knowledge of the principles of traffic engineering, econometrics, statistics, or computer science that is applicable to transportation system modeling and analysis.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Access, SQL, or other database programs is desired.
- Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) is desired.
- Knowledge of major travel demand modeling software, such as VISUM, CUBE, TransCAD, or EMME, or knowledge of microscopic or mesoscopic simulation software, such as VISSIM, is a bonus.
- Ability to effectively present results of research and technical analyses in oral, written and graphic form.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, planning officials, and the general public.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
ONE YEAR of professional experience in civil engineering, transportation planning, or a related discipline; and a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. A Master’s degree or a full year of intern or co-operative education experience can be substituted for one year of experience.
Mid 40,000s