Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are spearheading groundbreaking work by leveraging synthetic populations to study and identify gaps in essential services within communities. This ambitious project, overseen by human geography research scientist Joe Tuccillo, is known as UrbanPop. By utilizing census data along with ORNL’s high-performance computers, the project crafts synthetic populations that closely mimic real neighborhood environments. These artificially created populations, which consist of individual “agents,” enable researchers to explore how these agents interact with transportation routes and their access to crucial services, including nutrition and healthcare.
A significant focus of this research involves uncovering inefficiencies and inequalities in service access. By simulating the journeys people take to reach essential services, researchers can identify regions plagued by issues like food deserts, inadequate healthcare facilities, and unnecessarily long commutes. These simulated scenarios offer a compelling proxy for understanding real-world community challenges, subsequently aiding in more informed urban planning and policy-making. One notable tool in this research is the Likeness software suite, which is pivotal in creating synthetic populations and modeling various everyday situations. This software provides invaluable data on human mobility and resource accessibility, which has far-reaching applications.
Applications and Implications
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are leading cutting-edge research using synthetic populations to identify gaps in essential community services. Called UrbanPop and spearheaded by human geography research scientist Joe Tuccillo, this project combines census data with ORNL’s high-performance computing capabilities to create synthetic populations that closely resemble real-world neighborhoods. These artificially generated “agents” allow scientists to study interactions with transportation systems and access to critical services such as nutrition and healthcare.
The primary focus is on exposing inefficiencies and inequalities in how services are accessed. By simulating people’s routes to essential services, researchers can spot issues like food deserts, insufficient healthcare facilities, and excessive commute times. These simulations serve as insightful models for tackling real-world community challenges, informing urban planning and policy decisions. Central to this research is the Likeness software suite, crucial for creating synthetic populations and modeling daily activities. This software offers vital data on human mobility and resource accessibility, carrying significant implications for future urban developments.
