11.13.2025
RSG develops ActivitySim model for National Capital Region
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) has released a beta version of its Generation-3 (Gen3) ActivitySim travel demand model, marking a key step toward adopting an activity-based modeling framework for the National Capital Region.
Developed in partnership with a consulting team led by RSG, the Gen3 model uses the open-source ActivitySim software to simulate tours of travel rather than individual trips. This approach enables more realistic representation of household travel patterns and supports policy analyses involving telecommuting, pricing, and vehicle type choice.
The RSG team was led by Project Manager Joel Freedman. The team also included Matt Landis, David Hensle, and Ali Etezady, who played key roles in population synthesis, software oversight, and model implementation. The beta release completes the third phase of MWCOG’s Gen3 development. The model will undergo usability testing ahead of the production version’s expected release in spring 2026.
Learn more or request access to the beta model through MWCOG’s data request portal.