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N-Min-CT Image title [https://n-min-ct.indecol.no/]

About

N-Min-CT is a web instrument built for interactive analysis of urban form, population's mobility and the associated environmental impacts. The development of this software is largely inspired by some of the research findings published by The Research Centre on Zero Emission Neighbourhoods in Smart Cities (FME ZEN) 🎓

This is also a playground for experimental work with advanced geospatial computing, predictive modelling and statistical simulation, which are partially or fully facilitated by modern cloud computing technologies for big data processing 🤓🤖, high-performance and GPU-accelerated computing, to name a few.

N-Min-CT contains the following message in its name: N is a variable name, subject to user input, that defines a number of Min (Minutes) available for CT (Commuting Time). Also, the abbreviation CT happens to sound similar to city, which is the subject matter that the software deals with (a lucky coincidence 😊).

Currently, the core features of the software are: i) finding the share of urban territory accessible to a commuter from some location given some constraints (Travel Radius within Time) and ii) analyzing several metrics (ZEN KPIs) of how sustainable the accessible territory is.

Travel Radius within Time

(TRT) consists in finding all destinations within reach for a commuter given:

  • a road network suitable for specific transport mode
  • travel origin (a pair of geospatial coordinates selected on the map)
  • maximum duration of a one-way trip
  • assumed use of the shortest (least lengthy) path to the destinations

The solution to the problem is a geospatial polygon covering the accessible destinations.

A more formal definition of TRT, its connection with a Single-Source Shortest Path (SSSP) problem, and the underlying methods, assumptions and guidelines for interpreting the results are discussed in a separate section.

A section on road networks, provides more details about the underlying data and the options for altering these networks.

ZEN KPIs

Planning, development and operational maintenance of neighbourhoods, such that enable the transition to more sustainable cities and communities, requires quantitative performance metrics to rely on. A comprehensive set of such metrics has been proposed by FME ZEN in the following document: THE ZEN DEFINITION – A GUIDELINE FOR THE ZEN PILOT AREAS. Version 3.0. These performance metrics are referred to as ZEN key performance indicators (KPIs).

ZEN KPIs implemented in N-Min-Ct and their implementation details are discussed separately.

Interactivity

  1. New travel origin is selected on the left mouse button click. Coordinates of the origin are displayed in the format: Origin: λ=longitude, φ=latitude

  2. The choice of the road network is implemented as a drop-down list under Road network for:

  3. Road networks can be altered by adding or removing the road segments:

    • Adding segments:

      1. activate the Add segment button
      2. initiate drawing by clicking twice on the left mouse button
      3. add one or more breakpoints with a single click of the left mouse button
      4. finalize the drawing by clicking twice on the left mouse button

    • Removing segments:

      1. activate the Del segment button
      2. hover over the road segment intended for deletion until highlighted
      3. click on the segment

  4. Maximum trip duration can be changed by dragging the N (minutes) range slider

  5. Selection of a ZEN KPI is under the dropdown list ZEN KPI

  6. Interaction with the base map:

    • panning (drag with left mouse button)
    • zooming (scroll the mouse wheel)

Authors/Contributors

With feedback/ideas/questions - contact the developer [Ruslan Zhuravchak].

License

N-Min-CT © 2025 by IEDL is free for public use.

Disclaimer

Both N-Min-CT and this docummentation are provided "as is" without any warranties. The creators disclaim all liability for any damages or losses arising from using these. No guarantees are made regarding the accuracy, availability, or performance of the tool or supporting materials.