Merge branch 'develop'

getting_started.rst

@@ -1,10 +1,53 @@
 Getting Started
 ===============
 
-Installation Guide
-------------------
-Provide step-by-step instructions for installing the project, including prerequisites.
-
 Quick Start
 -----------
-A quick guide to getting a simple example up and running.
+1. Prepare the input files:
+   - Ensure you have the following files in the `inputs` directory:
+     - infra.json: Infrastructure data
+     - slow_zones.json: Slow zone definitions
+     - demand/odx_demand.csv: Passenger demand data
+     - schedules/empirical_schedule.json: Train schedule data
+
+2. Configure the simulation:
+   - Open the `load-balance/config.yaml` file
+   - Adjust the following parameters as needed:
+     - simulation.number_of_replications
+     - simulation.start_time_of_day
+     - simulation.end_time_of_day
+     - demand_level
+     - station
+     - short_turning
+     - logger.should_log_trajectories
+     - logger.log_interval
+
+3. Run the simulation:
+    python -m mit_rail_sim.simulation_runner.runner
+
+4. Check the output:
+   - Look for the generated log files in the specified log folder (default: `log_folder_path`)
+   - You'll find CSV and JSON files with various simulation data
+
+Understanding the Inputs and Config
+-----------------------------------
+1. Infrastructure (infra.json):
+   - Defines blocks, stations, and path information for Northbound and Southbound directions
+
+2. Slow Zones (slow_zones.json):
+   - Specifies areas with reduced speed limits
+
+3. Demand Data (odx_imputed_demand_2024-04-07_2024-05-30.csv):
+   - Contains passenger arrival rates at stations
+
+4. Schedule Data (empirical_schedule_83.json):
+   - Defines train dispatch times and routes
+
+5. Configuration (config.yaml):
+   - simulation: Set replication count, start and end times
+   - demand_level: Adjust overall passenger demand. Used as a multiplier to uniformly scale demand.
+   - station: Specify holding station (e.g., "O-Hare" or "Clark/Lake")
+   - short_turning: Set short turning location ("UIC" or "Western")
+   - logger: Configure logging options
+
+By adjusting these inputs and configurations, you can simulate various scenarios and analyze the rail system's performance under different conditions.