Chapter objectives:

-       understanding the principles of creating a simulation model using available tools,

-        understanding the individual steps of creating a simulation model.

Time required to study the chapter: 6 hours

Interpretation:

Nowadays, the field of transport planning, management and optimization is basically irrelevant without using the relevant computer support.
 

PTV Vision

The PTV Vision modeling software, more precisely some of its functional modules (VISEM, VISUM and VISSIM), is a comprehensive software package designed to support planning and management of traffic processes.
 
VISUM: Software for transport networks planning and analysis. It models in parallel public passenger transport networks as well as individual car transport networks which can be, subsequently, operated as one common network or separately. It helps to evaluate existing or propose a completely new level of public passenger transport from the point of view of both the provider and the passengers.
The basic functionality of the VISUM module is to allocate transport relations matrices to the model transport network (i.e. transport network loading by transport relations). The obtained output provides a comprehensive image about availability, time loss, occupancy, and so on.

VISEM: It is a model for generating transport relations matrices and calculating the transport demand. Parts of the input data for the process of defying transport relations matrices by software VISEM are represented by the distances matrix, time availability, transfers matrix, classified matrix, etc. in appropriate formats acceptable by VISEM.

VISSIM: Software module for multimodal modeling that enables to perform a microscopic traffic flow simulation by the user. It generates a realistic model of pedestrian and cyclist behavior and can accurately simulate their movement along urban roads synchronously with the motor vehicles movement.
 
Other components (modules) of PTV Vision: VISEVA - transport demand with simultaneous destination choice. INTERPLAN - graphic planning and optimization of timetables and theoretical graphs of transport. INTERPLAN/select - application for individual and dispatcher planning for route optimization. VISUM-online - Software for a real-time traffic management on motorways and roads. Traffic engineering workstation SITRAFFIC P2 - application for creation of signal plans of both isolated and coordinated intersections.
 

Options (usage) of PTV Vision:

• Research projects focused on roads capacity (motorways, roads, intersections);
• Optimization of traffic-projection intersections designs;
• Microscopic simulations on motorway networks (throughput, transport quality);
• Simulation of telematics benefits;
• Microscopic simulation of public passenger transport vehicles driving.

 

Course of the simulation study

The simulation process consists of two basic stages. In the first stage, a simulation model is to be designed and created. This process covers the creation of the certain model (transport network) and necessary data collection and evaluation. During the second stage, simulation experiments are carried out on the created and verified model. The final step is to implement the conclusions and results from the simulation study into real life.
 
The whole process is divided into 11 basic steps:
• Transport problem formulation
• Determining objectives and overall plan of the simulation process
• Model concept creation
• Data collection and analysis
• Simulation model creation
• Model verification
• Model validation
• Simulation process proposal
• Simulation implementation and analysis
• Need of further simulation
• Final report creation
 

Study materials:

Basic literature:
Voženílek, V., Strakoš, V. City Logistics: Dopravní problémy města a logistika. Olomouc: Publisher - Palacky University, 2009, pp. 104-107. ISBN 978-80-244-2317-3
Electronic study support FAST VSB for the course “Modeling of transport on the road”, Available at (online): http://projekt150.ha-vel.cz/node/95
 

Questions and tasks

  1. The most significant functional modules of PTV Vision modeling software do not include::

1. VISUM
2. VISAM
3. VISSIM

   2. Functional module VISEM is specialized in:

1. generating transport relations matrices and calculating the transport demand
2. multimodal modeling
3. modeling public passenger transport networks as well as individual car transport networks

   3. Options (usage) of PTV Vision software do not include:

1. optimization of traffic-projection intersections designs.
2. microscopic simulations on motorways networks
3. macroscopic simulation of the journey of individual car transport

   4. Write out some other components of PTV Vision software.

 
   5. Basic steps of the simulation study do not include:

1. data collection and analysis
2. generating transport relations matrices
3. simulation process proposal

 

Key to solve the questions:

1.  b.
2.  a.
3.  c.
4.  VISEVA, INTERPLAN, INTERPLAN/select, VISUM-online, Traffic engineering workstation SITRAFFIC P2

      5.   b.