The minimum Windows computer system requirements to run IHSDM are as follows:

Software 

• Operating Systems Supported: Windows 10. (Note: The software development team did not test IHSDM version 17.0.0 on Windows 8, Windows 7, Microsoft Vista, or the Windows 2000 Professional Operating Systems, but the expectation is that it will run successfully.)
• HTML Browsers Supported: Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Most of IHSDM is implemented in the Java programming language. The software developers used and deployed the OpenJDK Java development environment and runtime. The major functionality that is currently implemented in another programming language, and is not available for operating systems other than Windows, includes:

• The TWOPAS traffic simulation (implemented in Fortran) used by the IHSDM Traffic Analysis Module. 
• The VDANL vehicle simulation (third party DLL) used by the IHSDM Driver/Vehicle Module.

Minimum Hardware Configuration 

Users must have:

• At least a 450 MHz x86 compatible CPU.
• At least 256 MB RAM.
• An 800 x 600 high color (16 bit) display.
• At least 600 MB free disk space.

Recommended Hardware Configuration 

For better performance, users should have:

• At least a 1.5 GHz x86 compatible CPU.
• At least 1 GB RAM (32-bit JVM can use a maximum of 1 GB of heap space on Windows, 64-bit JVM can use the amount of available RAM on the computer).
• A 1280 x 1028 high color (16 bit) display.

IHSDM is packaged in a single, compressed .zip file that contains the IHSDM installation directory. The distribution contains the entire IHSDM release, including a Java runtime environment, .chm help files, configuration files and example highway data and project files.

IHSDM is implemented in the Java programming language. Most of the functionality of IHSDM is available on any host operating system that supports a Java 8 runtime environment.

The IHSDM distribution file is packaged as a .zip file. Users must first download the file (ihsdm_17_0_0_full.zip), which contains an installed version of the software. Then, they must follow the instructions provided below under “Installing IHSDM” to use the file to install the software on their computer. After download and installation, IHSDM can be started.

The IHSDM-HSM Predictive Method 2021 Release, version 17.0.0, is available as a full distribution file, which can be installed over 2011 and later versions of IHSDM. The 2021 release includes the latest OpenJDK Java 8 runtime environment.

The distribution file (ihsdm_17_0_0_full.zip) contains a fully installed version of IHSDM, including:

• A Java Runtime Environment (JRE) from OpenJDK (version 1.8.0).
• All IHSDM files required to run the Policy Review, Crash Prediction, Design Consistency, Traffic Analysis and Driver/Vehicle Modules.
• .chm-based documentation.
• Sample highway files.
• A GEOPAK-to-IHSDM data extractor, for use with GEOPAK 2001, 2000 and 98.

Once installed on your computer, the JRE and IHSDM files will require 500 MB of disk space.

The distribution file (ihsdm_17_0_0_full.zip) contains an installed version of the software, with the main/home folder named IHSDM2021. The IHSDM2021 folder contains many subfolders (e.g., .bat, .bin, .chm, config, highways, Tutorial) and files.
Once the distribution (.zip) file has been downloaded to your computer, simply copy the expanded/extracted contents (i.e., the IHSDM2021 folder) to whatever location you wish to run IHSDM from. For example, if you wish to run IHSDM from the C:\ folder, just copy the IHSDM2021 folder and its contents to C:\.

After the software has been installed on your computer, users may start IHSDM in the following ways:

• Double-click on the ihsdm.exe file in Windows Explorer to open a 32-bit version of IHSDM, or double-click on the ihsdm64.exe file to open a 64-bit version of IHSDM.
• Right-click on the ihsdm.exe file or ihsdm64.exe file and select “Send to...Desktop (create Shortcut)” or “Pin to Start” or “Pin to taskbar” for quick access in the future.
   

Disclaimer

The Interactive Highway Safety Design Model (IHSDM) software product is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its content or use thereof. The IHSDM software product and related documentation does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade and manufacturers' names may appear in this software product only because they are considered essential to the objective of the software product.

Limited Warranty and Limitations of Remedies

This software product is provided "as-is," without warranty of any kind-either expressed or implied (but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose). The FHWA and distributor do not warrant that the functions contained in the software will meet the end-user's requirements or that the operation of the software will be uninterrupted and error-free.
Under no circumstances will the FHWA or the distributor be liable to the end-user for any damages or claimed lost profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the software (even if these organizations have been advised of the possibility of such damages), or for any claim by any other party.

Notice

The use of the IHSDM software is being done strictly on a voluntary basis. In exchange for provision of IHSDM, the user agrees that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation and any other agency of the Federal Government shall not be responsible for any errors, damage or other liability that may result from any and all use of the software, including installation and testing of the software. The user further agrees to hold the FHWA and the Federal Government harmless from any resulting liability. The user agrees that this hold harmless provision shall flow to any person to whom or any entity to which the user provides the IHSDM software. It is the user's full responsibility to inform any person to whom or any entity to which it provides the IHSDM software of this hold harmless provision.