Transporation Research

• FHWA: Office of Operations
• FHWA: Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM)
• UMCP: ATTAP
• UMCP: CATT
• Proceeding: Winter Simulation Conference
  
• Book: Urban Transportation Networks
• Book: Urban Operation Research
  

Google Earth Tools

Google Earth is a useful and powerful tool. Recently I am working on Google Earth Pro. Here are their additional functions compared to the free version:
(1) Measure polygons and circles;
(2) Print high-resolution image;
(3) Import spreadsheet files and GIS shape files;
Does this Pro license really deserve 400$/year? Well, it does save a lot work load. But those functions can also be done by using some online tools or coding kml/kmz files.
I am not familiar with Google Earth API and those coding stuff. But here are some useful tools I found from ...Google....
(1) KML Circle Generator
It'll generate a LineString path for you that looks just like a circle.
(2) Earth Point Tools: Calculate Polygon Area
Calculate the area of a Google Earth polygon, its perimeter, centroid, and bounding box.
Calculate the length of a path, its mid-point, and bounding box.
You can measure multiple polygons in one folder at one time, and export the results in excel files. Amazing!
(3)Earth Point Tools: Create Directional Arrow
Export a spreadsheet of lat/long coordinates to Google Earth. Pop-up balloons, icons, paths, and directional arrows are easily created from the spreadsheet data.
(A lot of other small but powerful tools can be found in this website. )

C++ String Examples

This website gives good examples about how to use std::string in C++

http://anaturb.net/C/string_exapm.htm

FW: "be lucky it's an easy skill to learn"

Are we born to be a luck or unlucky man?
Can we train our mind to be luckier?
A friend forwarded me this interesting article:
"Be lucky: It's an easy skill to learn"
Give our mind a bowl of chicken soup~

CPT/OPT/H1-B

CPT/OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Have your application number ready, You will be able to find the status of your case:

My Case Status

classic C++ books for starters

《The C++ Programming Language》by Bjarne Stroustrup
《C++ Primer》by Stanley B.Lippman and Josee Lajoie

How to read/write Excel in C++

It is not difficult to write/read Excel data in VB/VBA, the development language included with most Microsoft Office products. It's another story if wring such an application using C++.
It seems the most popular method is to use OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) interface. The advantage is that you can use most Excel functions such as formula, format. The disadvantage is obvious, the application relies on Windows.
A class to be used in environments other than Windows would be welcomed by many developers. BasicExcel is such an open-source project. However, as the name indicates, its function is BASIC. You cannot expect too much on complicated applications.

References:
1. Comparison of methods of reading/writing EXCEL in C++ (chinese)
2. How to automate Excel from C++ without using MFC or #import
3. BasicExcel-A Class to Read and Write to Microsoft Excel