NATIONAL ROADS AUTHORITY

Project Appraisal Guidelines

Appendix 9a - Default COBA input file

March 2008

Version
1.0

Default COBA input file

Changes made to document since previous version
-

St Martins House, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4

Tel: 00 353 1 660 2511
Fax 00 353 1 668 0009
Email: info@nra.ie
Web: www.nra.ie

Date issued
01.03.2008

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction........................................................................................................................ 2
Contents ............................................................................................................................ 2

Default COBA File ........................................................................................................... 4

Overview ........................................................................................................................... 4
Basic data.......................................................................................................................... 4
Network ............................................................................................................................. 4
Scheme costs.................................................................................................................... 4

Enquiries ........................................................................................................................ 12

Introduction

Default COBA input file

Introduction

Introduction
1.1

This document is an appendix to the NRAs Project Appraisal Guidelines and provides a default
COBA input file that can be modified for use in COBA assessments. It is of particular relevance
to those using the programme for the first time.

1.2

The example in this appendix should be read in conjunction with Section 5 of Appendix 7
COBA guidance, which provides further detail on the structure of the COBA input file, and the
type of information required.

1.3

It is not the intention to provide an example of best practice, as this depends on the individual
scheme being appraised.
Contents

1.4

The appendix is split into the following sections:

Section 2 contains a default input file, and

Section 3 enquiries.

Default COBA File

Default COBA input file

Default COBA File

Overview
2.1

The example COBA data file presented in this section illustrates a hypothetical Scheme A at
preliminary design phase. The first year of the scheme is predicted to be 2010.

2.2

The data file illustrates how the default parameter values should be entered into the basic data
section of the COBA input deck, and how scheme costs are entered.
Basic data
The Basic Data section of the input file comprises network wide data that either remain constant
throughout the project or change in the same way from the base year value in each scheme of
the project.
The following are mandatory records, and should be entered in the order presented:
KEY001 General title;
KEY003 Years for this scheme i.e. defines the first and last years in the 30-year appraisal
period. COBA allows users to redefine the present value year on the same record as the first
and last scheme years; however this should be set at 2002 in line with NRA Guidelines. Key003
also allows users to set a journey time year. This should be set to the same year as journey
time surveys, which are required for all schemes, are undertaken to facilitate comparison
between each;
KEY004 Defining the network classification, flow period (i.e. AADT), year and month of traffic
forecasts, accidents and whether or not tidality is to be modelled, and
KEY 005 Options for traffic / economic / fuel cost growth. In the example, default low growth
has been selected.
If any of these records are omitted, then the program run will be reduced to a data check only.
All other items in the Basic Data will take the NRA default values and should not be amended
unless otherwise directed by the NRA.
Network

2.3

Figure 2.1 shows the network coded in the data file, with nodes and links labelled according to
the convention recommended in Appendix 5. Link 1121 represents a new motorway forming a
bypass in the Do-Something scenario between Nodes 107 and 112.

2.4

Links 1131 and 1052 are 2+1 Roads and provide an example of how such road types are now
classified within COBA. Node 105 illustrates how a priority junction on a 2+1 Road should be
coded. Finally, nodes 108, 109, 110 and 114 are all roundabouts, which have been coded to
simulate delay to traffic on the existing road.
Scheme costs

2.5

The Target Scheme Cost profile is shown in Table 2.1. The derivation of the scheme costs is
presented in detail in Appendix 12 Guidance Note on the Preparation of Scheme Costs.
Scheme Costs are to be entered, in multiples of 1,000, into COBA using Key055 these are
undiscounted values at 2002 prices.

Default COBA input file

GENERAL TITLE
PRINT PHASE DCO
1
2
YEARS FOR THIS SCHEME -

COBA 11 R7 EXAMPLE-LOW
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
FIRST
LAST PRES-VAL
JOURNEY TIME
2010
2039
2002
2007
NTWRK CLASSIFICATION TF-PERIOD
TF-YEAR TF-MONTH ACCIDENTS TIDALITY
TNB
AADT
2010
COM
OPTIONS
TRAFFIC ECONOMIC FUELCOST
DEFL
DEFL
DEFL
END OF BASIC DATA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SCHEME TITLE
Do Minimum Network
NODE-LINK DATA
NODE LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK LINK
101 1011
102 1011 1021
103 1021 1031
104 1031 1041
113 1041 1131
105 1131 1051 1052
106 1052 1061
107 1061 1071 1072
108 1072 1081 1082 1083
114 1082 1141 1142 1143 1144
109 1143 1091 1092 1093
110 1092 1101 1102 1103
123 1101
124 1103
111 1102 1122
112 1122
115 1071
116 1081
117 1083
118 1091
119 1093
122 1144
121 1142
120 1141
END OF NODE-LINK DATA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FLOW ON
LINK
VMG1
VMG2
VMG3 INTO NODE
1011
1000
1021 44841
1031 44841
1041 47144
1131 47311
1052 64766
1061 64766
1072 81132
1082 82056
1092 82979
1102 88589
1122 93419
1143 78780
1071
6000
1081
6231
1083
6693
1091
7050
1093
9149
1141
6981
1142
6981
1144
7308
1101
7403
1103
1208
1051 28005
9999
RURAL ROAD LINK C AT DES LENGTH CWID HILLS DOWN BEND SWID VWID JUNC VISI MAXS
1011 1 4
0.35
8
40
0
57
2.0
64
1021 1 4
3.66
11
20
0
8
1.0
96
1031 1 4
1.07
15
30
0
66
0.5
96
1041 1 4
2.22
12
40
0
54
1.0
96
1061 2 10
1.36
15
20
0
15
96
1072 2 10
1.70
15
25
0
24
96
1082 2 10
1.29
15
20
0
39
80
1122 5 1
0.82
22
15
0
6
64
1143 2 10
0.86
15
0
0
23
80
1071 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1081 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1083 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1091 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1093 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1141 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1142 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1144 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1101 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1103 1 4
0.50
8
40
0
20
0.0
64
1051 1 4
0.50
8
15
0
5
0.0
64
1131 13 11
0.50
12
10
0
5
0.0
96
1052 13 11
1.35
12
35
0
5
0.0
96
SUBURBAN
LINK
AT S/D LENGTH WIDTH HILLS
MAX-S
INT AXS
1092
4 1
1.59
15
30
64
1.3 3.8
1102
10 2
0.69
15
15
64
2.9 4.0
9999
ROUNDABOUT RST RT LINK A-WID E-WID E-RAD F-LEN DIAM FI GSI DCPK DCOPK GD MXD

Default COBA input file

108 120

0
1072
1081
1082
1083

9999
ROUNDABOUT RST RT
114 120 1

LINK

10
9
7
7

LINK

11
4
5
11
3

MAJORMINOR RST JT
105 120 2

LINK

11
6
10
6

FROM

FROM
1143
1091
1092
1093

9999
TURNF NODE F/P
114 F

FROM
1082
1141
1142
1143
1144

9999
TURNF NODE F/P
110 F

FROM
1092
1101
1102
1103

9999
TURNF NODE F/P
105 F

FROM
1131
1051
1052

9999
LOCAL LINK ACC

14
6
9
12
9

37
50
16
36
88

45
1
1
45
25

80
80
80
80
80

11
6
11
9

22
20
59
41

35
1
40
45

70
70
70
70

1092
10
11
59
40
70
1101
6
6
20
1
70
1102
10
11
59
40
70
1103
6
9
41
45
70
LINK L-WID R-WID L-VIS R-VIS C-WID

1072
1081
1082
1083
9999
TURNF NODE F/P
109 F

70
70
70
70

50
45
60
45

80
45
45
50
40

40
45
45
45

0
3.0
0

0
2.5
3.75

0
250
0

0
140
160

0 0

300

DCPK DCOPK GD
0
0 0

MXD
300

DCPK DCOPK GD
0
0 0

MXD
300

DCPK DCOPK GD
0
0 0

MXD
300

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

A-WID E-WID E-RAD F-LEN DIAM FI GSI

1131
1051
1052
9999
TURNF NODE F/P
108 F

30
20
25
20

A-WID E-WID E-RAD F-LEN DIAM FI GSI

1143
1091
1092
1093
9999
ROUNDABOUT RST RT
110 120 1

41
45
70
34

A-WID E-WID E-RAD F-LEN DIAM FI GSI

1082
1141
1142
1143
1144
9999
ROUNDABOUT RST RT
109 120 1

11
9
8
8

45
0
45
0
45
0
45
0
T-WID

0
0
0

S V
0 1

MXD
300

15.0
0
15.0

TO 1
1072
0
1530
35632
1710

TO 2
1081
2599
0
2658
128

TO 3
1082
35011
1537
0
1717

TO 4
1083
2678
118
2738
0

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1143
0
1663
34635
2233

TO 2
1091
2746
0
3024
195

TO 3
1092
32912
1741
0
2337

TO 4
1093
3478
184
3830
0

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1082
0
1679
1679
31636
1771

TO 2
1141
2829
0
140
2634
147

TO 3
1142
2829
140
0
2634
147

TO 4
1143
32421
1602
1602
0
1689

TO 5
1144
2944
145
145
2740
0

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1092
0
1690
36540
2366

TO 2
1101
2892
0
3260
211

TO 3
1102
34610
1804
0
2526

TO 4
1103
3988
208
4495
0

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1131
0
1272
22383

TO 2
1051
4000
0
10000

TO 3
1052
19655
12733
0

TO 4

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

LINK TYPE
1021
4
1031
4
1041
4
1131 11
1052 11
1061 10
1072 10
1082 10
1092
4
1102 10
1143 10

RATE

YEAR1 NYRS
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5
1998
5

NO
4
0
1
1
4
0
2
4
4
4
3

NO
1
1
0
3
1
0
2
2
4
0
1

NO
0
0
1
2
1
0
5
3
3
2
2

NO
0
2
3
0
6
1
3
2
2
2
1

NO
0
2
1
0
4
1
8
1
3
2
3

9999
END OF SCHEME DATA =============================================================
SCHEME TITLE
Do Something Network - CONTRACT 1
LINKS TO BE ADDED
LINK JOINS NODE TO NODE
1121
107
112
END OF NODE-LINK DATA ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COSTS YEAR
CAPITAL-COST
CONSTR-DELAY
MAINT-CAPITL
MAINT-DELAY
2006
92852
2007
77290

Default COBA input file

2008
2009
2010
9999
FLOW ON

74360
19383
1735
LINK
1011
1021
1031
1041
1131
1052
1061
1072
1082
1092
1102
1122
1121
1143
1071
1081
1083
1091
1093
1141
1142
1144
1101
1103
1051

9999
RURAL ROAD LINK
1121
9999
TURNF NODE F/P
108 F

VMG1
1000
44841
44841
47144
47311
64766
64766
27713
28638
29560
35170
40000
53419
25361
6000
6231
6722
7049
9149
6981
6981
7308
7049
9149
28005

C AT DES LENGTH
5 1
5.95
FROM
1072
1081
1082
1083

9999
TURNF NODE F/P
109 F

FROM
1143
1091
1092
1093

9999
TURNF NODE F/P
114 F

FROM
1082
1141
1142
1143
1144

9999
TURNF NODE F/P
110 F

FROM
1092
1101
1102
1103

9999
TURNF NODE F/P
105 F

VMG2

FROM
1131
1051
1052

VMG3 INTO NODE

CWID
15

HILLS DOWN BEND SWID VWID JUNC VISI MAXS

10
0
15
113

TO 1
1072
0
1425
9960
1595

TO 2
1081
2018
0
2147
344

TO 3
1082
9483
1444
0
1616

TO 4
1083
2079
316
2212
0

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1143
0
1446
9200
1977

TO 2
1091
1901
0
2462
529

TO 3
1092
8118
1652
0
2259

TO 4
1093
2408
490
3118
0

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1082
0
1541
1541
7497
1601

TO 2
1141
2143
0
361
1788
382

TO 3
1142
2143
361
0
1788
382

TO 4
1143
7798
1314
1314
0
1390

TO 5
1144
2230
376
376
1861
0

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1092
0
1516
11240
2212

TO 2
1101
2013
0
2705
532

TO 3
1102
9761
1768
0
2581

TO 4
1103
2710
491
3640
0

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

TO 1
1131
0
1272
22383

TO 2
1051
4000
0
10000

TO 3
1052
19655
12733
0

TO 4

TO 5

TO 6

INFL AMPI PMPI

9999
END OF SCHEME DATA =============================================================
FINISH

Default COBA input file

KEY
1011

Single Carriageway

101

102

2+1 Road
Dual Carriageway
1021

Motorway
Node

103

101

Node Number

1011

Link Number

1031
104
1041
113
1131
105

1051
1052

106

1061

107

1071
115

1072
1083

108

1081 116

117
1082

120
1141

1144
122

114

1142

1143
1093

121
109

1091

118

119

1092
1121
110
124

1103

123
1101

1102

111

Figure 2.1 COBA network

1122

112

efault COBA input file

Target Cost 1 Scenario

Main
Contract
Construction
Year
(m)
2002 (and before)
2003

2004

2005

2006

17.3
2007

69.4
2008

69.4
2009

17.3
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

173.5

Main
Contract
Supervision
(m)

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

8.1

Archaeology
(all phases)
(m)

4.2

4.2

Advance
works (m)

4.3

4.3

Residual
Network (m)

1.7

1.7

Land & Property

(m)

59.1

59.1

Table 2.1 Target scheme cost (refer to Appendix 12 for full derivation of items in this table)

Planning and
Design (m)

5.9

5.9

2.9

14.6

COSTS TO INPUT
INTO COBA (
'000s)

92,852

77,290

74,360

19,383

1,735

Default COBA input file

10

Enquiries

Default COBA input file

Enquiries
All enquiries should be directed to:
Transport Economist
National Roads Authority
St Martins House
Waterloo Road
Dublin

12