Muti-Regional Modelling

[vsaini]

Dear All, 

I have Country A, B, C and D as separate region in Answer Times connected to each other through Bi-directional Trade process. A connected to B, A connected to C and A connected to D through Bi-directional Trade Process. 
 
Now, if I have to further model sub-regions (A1, A2, A3 and A4) within country A, what should be my approach? How I am going to connect B, C, D with A or I have to Connect B, C, D with A1, A2, A3 & A4 as per the physical proximity? 

Warm Regards
Vinay Saini

Happy New Year 2019.

[Antti-L]

Happy New Year to you too.

Concerning the question how to connect regions B, C, D with sub-regions A1, A2, A3 & A4, I think it would depend on how you model these sub-regions in (there is no concept of sub-region implemented in the TIMES model generator itself). If you model them as regular regions, I would think that you would need trade processes between A1, A2, A3 and A4, and I think I would also connect B, C, D directly to these A* regions according to the physical proximity, as you put it. But sure, you could also keep a "master region" A for the original full region A, and let all trade involving A go through that. Alternatively, you could also model the sub-regions without introducing new regions for them, by introducing sub-regional processes and commodities.

I am thus not able to give any recommendation, but I think it is up to the modeller to decide which is the best approach for his/her model. But maybe some TIMES users who have more experience with sub-regional modelling might be able to give their suggestions.

[vsaini]

Dear Dr. Antti,

Thank you for the detailed reply. I will look into your recommendations.

[Antti-L]

I am thus not able to give any recommendation,

I will look into your recommendations.