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Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume III: Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation Modeling Software

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Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume III: Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation Modeling Software Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume III: Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation Modeling Software PUBLICATION NO. FHWA-HRT-04-040 JULY 2004 Research, Development, and Technology Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 6300 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22101-2296 Foreword Traffic simulation software has become increasingly more popular as a traffic analysis tool used in transportation analyses. One reason for this increase in the use of simulation is the need to model and analyze the operation of complex transportation systems under congested conditions. Where some analytical techniques break down under these types of conditions, simulation shines. However, despite the widespread use of traffic simulation software, there are a variety of conflicting thoughts and practices on how simulation should be used. The purpose of the Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation Modeling Software is to provide a recommended process for using traffic simulation software in transportation analyses. The guidelines provide the reader with a seven-step process that begins with project scope and ends with the final project report. The process is generic, in that it is independent of the specific software tool used in the analysis. In fact, the first step in the process involves picking the appropriate tool for the job at hand. It is hoped that these guidelines will assist the transportation community in creating a more consistent process in the use of traffic simulation software. This document serves as Volume III in the Traffic Analysis Toolbox. Other volumes currently in the toolbox include: Volume I: Traffic Analysis Tools Primer and Volume II: Decision Support Methodology for Selecting Traffic Analysis Tools. The intended audience for this report includes the simulation analyst, the reviewer of simulation analyses, and the procurer of simulation services. Jeffery A. Lindley, P.E. Director Office of Transportation Management Notice This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the object of the document. Quality Assurance Statement The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. FHWA-HRT-04-040 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Traffic Analysis Toolbox June 2004 Volume III: Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation 6. Performing Organization Code Software 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Richard Dowling, Alexander Skabardonis, Vassili Alexiadis 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Dowling Associates, Inc. 180 Grand Avenue, Suite 250 11. Contract or Grant No. Oakland, CA 94612 DTFH61-01-C-00181 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Office of Operations Final Report, May 2002 – August 2003 Federal Highway Administration 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 400 7th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 15. Supplementary Notes FHWA COTR: John Halkias, Office of Transportation Management 16. Abstract This report describes a process and acts as guidelines for the recommended use of traffic microsimulation software in transportation analyses. The seven-step process presented in these guidelines highlights the aspects of microsimulation analysis from project start to project completion. The seven steps in the process include: 1) scope project, 2) data collection, 3) base model development, 4) error checking, 5) compare model MOEs to field data (and adjust model parameters), 6) alternatives analysis, and 7) final report. Each step is described in detail and an example problem applying the process is carried through the entire document. The appendices to report contain detailed in information covering areas such as: a) traffic microsimulation fundamentals, b) confidence intervals, c) estimation of simulation initialization period, d) simple search algorithms for calibration, e) hypothesis testing of alternatives, and f) demand constraints. This is the third volume in a series of volumes in the Traffic Analysis Toolbox. The other volumes currently in the Traffic Analysis Toolbox are: Volume I: Traffic Analysis Tools Primer (FHWA-HRT-04-038) Volume II: Decision Support Methodology for Selecting Traffic Analysis Tools (FHWA-HRT-04-039) 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Traffic simulation, traffic analysis tools, highway No restrictions. This document is available to the public capacity, simulation guidelines through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 146 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed pages authorized SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH in inches 25.4 millimeters mm ft feet 0.305 meters m yd yards 0.914 meters m mi miles 1.61 kilometers km AREA in2 square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2 ft2 square feet 0.093 square meters m2 yd2 square yard 0.836 square meters m2 ac acres 0.405 hectares ha mi2 square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2 VOLUME fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL gal gallons 3.785 liters L ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3 yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3 NOTE: volumes greater than 1000 L shall be shown in m3 MASS oz ounces 28.35 grams g lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams (or "metric ton") Mg (or "t") TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oF Fahrenheit 5 (F-32)/9 Celsius oC or (F-32)/1.8 ILLUMINATION fc foot-candles 10.76 lux lx fl foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2 FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS lbf poundforce 4.45 newtons N lbf/in2 poundforce per square inch 6.89 kilopascals kPa APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH mm millimeters 0.039 inches in m meters 3.28 feet ft m meters 1.09 yards yd km kilometers 0.621 miles mi AREA mm2 square millimeters 0.0016 square inches in2 m2 square meters 10.764 square feet ft2 m2 square meters 1.195 square yards yd2 ha hectares 2.47 acres ac km2 square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi2 VOLUME mL milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz L liters 0.264 gallons gal m3 cubic meters 35.314 cubic feet ft3 m3 cubic meters 1.307 cubic yards yd3 MASS g grams 0.035 ounces oz kg kilograms 2.202 pounds lb Mg (or "t") megagrams (or "metric ton") 1.103 short tons (2000 lb) T TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oC Celsius 1.8C+32 Fahrenheit oF ILLUMINATION lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS N newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf kPa kilopascals 0.145 poundforce per square inch lbf/in2 *SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E380. (Revised March 2003) ii Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 Microsimulation Study Organization/Scope........................................................... 11 1.1 Study Objectives................................................................................................... 11 1.2 Study Breadth....................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Analytical Approach Selection ........................................................................... 14 1.4 Analytical Tool Selection (Software) ................................................................. 15 1.4.1 Technical Capabilities .............................................................................. 15 1.4.2 Input/Output/Interfaces......................................................................... 16 1.4.3 User Training/Support ............................................................................ 16 1.4.4 Ongoing Software Enhancements .......................................................... 16 1.5 Resource Requirements....................................................................................... 16 1.6 Management of a Microsimulation Study ........................................................ 18 1.7 Example Problem: Study Scope and Purpose .................................................. 19 2.0 Data Collection/Preparation........................................................................................ 23 2.1 Required Data ....................................................................................................... 23 2.1.1 Geometric Data.......................................................................................... 24 2.1.2 Control Data.............................................................................................. 24 2.1.3 Demand Data............................................................................................
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