Synthetic populations

Replica uses synthetic approaches to generate representative population data for its activity-based travel models based on a variety of public and private data sets. This allows the company's tools to develop detailed trip plans for simulated individuals and aggregate demand for different forms of mobility in different parts of cities at a very small scale. Combined with cheap computation, synthetic populations allow sophisticated transportation simulations to be quickly developed and deployed. For instance, Replica worked with New York City transit officials during the COVID-19 lockdown to minimize the disruption of train cleaning operations on essential workers' commutes. The company has also helped analyze demand for bicycle facilities near train stations and to prioritize those investments in historically underserved communities.

By powering detailed simulations of people's travel behavior, synthetic population data will expand cities' abilities to tailor mobility interventions to specific climate adaptation needs, and to respond quickly in highly targeted ways.