VISSIM – State-Of-The-Art Multi-Modal Simulation

VISSIM – State-of-the-Art Multi-Modal Simulation VISSIM is a microscopic traffic, public transport, and pedestrian simulation soft- VISSIM – ware and belongs to the PTV Vision® suite. It is the most powerful tool available for simulating multi-modal traffic flows, including cars, goods vehicles, buses, heavy Microscopic rail, trams, LRT, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. Through the implementa- tion of multi-threading VISSIM operates optimally on multi- processor and multicore Simulation computers. Its flexible network structure provides the user with the confidence to know they can model any type of geometric configuration or unique operational/ driver or pedestrian behaviour encountered within a transportation system.

Typical VISSIM applications

VISSIM is used for a host of traffic and public transport simulation needs. Common applications include:

 Freeway and arterial corridor studies  Current and future traffic management  Sub-area planning studies schemes  Freeway management strategies  Airport studies for landside and airside  Traffic calming schemes traffic  Light rail/bus rapid transit studies  Environmental impact studies  Public transport signal priority  Multi-modal public transport inter- evaluations changes  Railroad grade crossing analyses  Pedestrian modelling in any built  Toll plaza evaluations environment including evacuation  Intelligent Transport System (ITS) planning assessments VISSIM

VISSIM Features – A Close Up View

What Makes VISSIM Special? Network

VISSIM is based on decades of intensive VISSIM has been used to analyse net- research at various academic institutions. works of all sizes ranging from individual Core algorithms are well documented. intersections to entire metropolitan areas. Open interfaces provide compatibility Within these transportation networks, with external software. Its link-connec- VISSIM is able to model all roadway tor topology allows the highest versatil- functional classifications from freeways ity combined with vehicle movements in (motorways) to driveways. VISSIM’s a detailed 1/10s resolution. Since being breadth of network applications also introduced to the market in 1992, VISSIM includes public transport, bicycle and has set the standard for simulation soft- pedestrian facilities. Many common, as ware; intensive research and a large user well as unique, geometric and operational community worldwide guarantee VISSIM conditions exist throughout the transpor- to be the leading edge software of its tation system which VISSIM can simulate. kind. Furthermore, the PTV Vision suite has been the first of its kind to integrate microscopic simulation with strategic transport planning/travel demand modelling.

Diagonal parking, New York, NY

Toll plaza, Camden, NJ  Multi-modal lane sharing and passing Some examples include: (e.g. bikes and cars)  Angle and parallel parking  Multi-lane freeways, interchanges,  Roundabouts, continuous flow inter- roadway grades sections  High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) and  Airport curbside drop-off areas  High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes  Exclusive lanes, mixed-flow lanes,  Merging and weaving areas queue jumps, queue-bypass lanes  Complex signalised and unsignalised  Public transport stops, terminals intersections  Centre and side-running LRT align-  U-turns, exclusive lanes, mixed flow ments lanes  Pedestrian queuing  2-way left turn lanes  Pedestrian - vehicle interaction  Bike lanes  Railroad lines

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Traffic Volumes

Analysis

When, where and how data is reported in VISSIM is up to the user. Data can be reported for any time period and inter- val within that time period. Data can be reported for any point-location in the network, for an intersection, along any path and/or for the entire network. Data can be aggregated by mode or by vehicle class. It can also be reported for an individual vehicle. Numerous measures of effectiveness (MOEs) can be reported from VISSIM. Typical ones include delay, speed, density, travel time, stops and queues. The deci- sion on which data to report and when, Shortest Path Search in Dallas, TX where and how the data is reported, is based on the needs of the project. For graphical representation of simulation An unlimited number of vehicle types Dynamic Routes is the assignment output, VISSIM uses its PTV Vision suite’s exist in VISSIM allowing the user to of vehicles to a railroad underpass only sister product VISUM. VISUM provides an model a full range of multi-modal opera- when the railroad grade crossing is occu- extensive graphics library for effectively tions. These vehicle types include cars, pied on the more commonly travelled path. visualising transportation modelling results. trucks, vehicles equipped with route Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) allows guidance systems, buses, heavy rail VISSIM to assign traffic to the network and light rail vehicles, bicyclists, wheel- using origin/destination matrices (time- chairs, pedestrians and even aircraft. and vehicle class-dependent) and travel cost stochastic assignment techniques. VISSIM also offers the unprecedented Origin/destination matrices can be gener- ability to assign these vehicles to the net- ated using the integrated demand model work using one or a combination of three of VISUM with its advanced matrix esti- methods. The basic method assumes that mation and calibration functionality. traffic is stochastically distributed over Fixed Routes from user-definable start to Public Transport end points. For coding intersection turn- ing movement counts, these start and VISSIM has long been the software of end points cover a single intersection, but choice for transit related studies including they can also continue through multiple bus rapid transit, light rail transit and multi- intersections (e.g. freeway interchange) modal transit terminals. Besides being or even the entire study area. Dynamic able to analyse the transit related network Routes allow traffic to be dynamically and signal control aspects listed in the assigned to user-specified paths when previous sections, VISSIM models transit

specific events occur. One example of routes, various transit vehicle types, sched- Bus terminal (route/time dependent bay ules, stops, stop types and dwell times. usage/dwell time distribution), Vancouver, BC

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Traffic Control

VISSIM can model intersections that control traffic using yield signs, stop signs (all- way, 2-way stop control), signals, and any combination thereof. What sets VISSIM apart from other simulation software packages is its flexibility in modelling all forms of signal control. There are several ways to model signal control in VISSIM:

 Fixed-time/pre-timed signal plans  Actuated (via a NEMA graphical user interface)  User definable signal control logic through VISSIM’s VAP macro language logic  Interfaces to signal controller firmware (virtual controllers) such as Siemens VISSIM Interface to SCATS signal controller NextPhase and Traffic Language, D4, VS-PLUS and Vialis  Interfaces to adaptive algorithms such as Peek’s Spot/Utopia, SCATS and SCOOT  Serial communication to external controllers  Interfaces to the McCain CID II allowing users to connect signal controllers Some examples of signal control and  Emergency vehicle pre-emption directly to VISSIM related ITS applications of VISSIM include:  Dynamic speed control  Ramp metering  Lane control signals  The C-like traffic control macro language,  Adaptive signal control Dynamic lane assignment signals  VAP, is supplemented with a flow chart  LRT and bus signal priority Changeable message signs editor VisVAP for easy data entry, error  Railroad pre-emption checking and debugging. In addition, the NEMA GUI used to enter actuated signal timings in VISSIM also has custom menus to allow users to model bus and LRT priority and railroad pre-emption.

VISVAP flow chart editor to define complex actuated Public transport signal priority and dynamic signal settings control strategies

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Pedestrian Simulation

VISSIM is a microscopic simulation tool, Furthermore there are several advantages VISSIM is the first multi-modal micro- meaning that all vehicles and pedestrians in using VISSIM such as: scopic simulation program to include are simulated individually. Pedestrian travel real interaction between pedestrians and creates complex interactions. The VISSIM  Area-based walking behaviour vehicles. Traffic lights, pedestrian cross- pedestrian simulation has been designed to  Multi-story modelling ings, and normal parts of streets can all be flexible enough to handle complex design  Recording of simulations be modelled and simulated in VISSIM. situations, to make VISSIM suitable for a  Background import For example, you can define road users broad range of applications. These include  COM Support who willingly infringe upon the traffic traffic engineering and transportation  Pedestrian - vehicle interaction rules like pedestrians who do not obey red planning, city planning, building design as crossing signals. well as evacuation and also animation.

3D animation of multi-modal public transport terminal

Graphics

VISSIM features 3D animation. This feature 3D pedestrian animation of Brandenburger Tor area, allows users to create realistic video clips Berlin, Germany in AVI format, an excellent tool for com- municating a project’s vision. VISSIM also offers users background mapping capabilities with aerial photographs and CAD drawings. Building models can be imported from Google Sketchup. For even more advanced virtual reality visualisation, the simulated traffic can be exported to Autodesks® 3dsmax software.

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Interfaces Increase Efficiency

One of VISSIM’s strengths is its ability to interface with a number of programs that are common to the transportation engineering and planning profession. These include:  Signal optimisation tools – Synchro™, TEAPAC; Transyt*  Control programs – Scoot, PCmova*  Travel demand models - emme/2, TranPlan, Cube etc.  Geographic information systems (GIS) and navigation data - ArcGIS* and NAVTEQ

PTV pioneered the integration of simulation and travel demand software. This effort has led to the first truly integrated simulation software, VISSIM, and travel demand software, VISUM, in the market. Simply put, the benefit to the transportation community is increased efficiency. * Synchro TM is a registered trademark of the Trafficware Corporation,TEAPAC is a product of Strong Concepts, Transyt and PCmova are a product of TRL, Scoot is a product of Siemens, TRL and Peek PTV Vision – The Transportation Software Suite

For the past quarter century, PTV has �� been developing software tools to �� address the spectrum of needs within �� the transportation profession from traf- �� fic analysis to real-time traffic manage- �� ment. Our vision has been to seamlessly �� integrate these tools into a transportation software suite. Today, our vision �� has become a reality! The transportation �� software suite, PTV Vision, integrates �� these tools to increase efficiency in your �� work tasks and is scalable to grow with �� the needs of your organisation. ��

VISSIM is a key component in PTV Vision PTV Vision enables you to expand your as shown in the data flow diagram above. analysis to a more macroscopic view with It allows for a detailed analysis of multi- VISUM, VISSIM’s complimentary travel modal traffic operations. demand model.

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Traffic Software PTV AG Phone: +49 721 9651-300 Logistics Software Stumpfstr. 1 [email protected] Transport Consulting 76131 Karlsruhe www.ptv-vision.de Germany www.ptvag.com

VISSIM – State-of-the-Art Multi-Modal Simulation

5 Reasons for VISSIM Application Development Platform PTV’s Focus on the Users

 Integration with travel demand model- VISSIM offers a COM programming Fore more than 15 years, the PTV Vision ling: exchange of network, demand and interface allowing users to integrate development team has been setting result data VISSIM in their own applications using new standards that our clients value  All modes in one simulation: cars, trucks, languages like Visual Basic (e.g. in MS and our competitors aspire to. Today, busses, LRT, bicycles and pedestrians Excel), Python or C++. The COM inter- PTV Vision is helping increase the pro-  Road geometry as detailed as you need it face provides access to the network ductivity of transportation profession-  Comprehensive toolbox for signal con- topology, signal control, path flows, als and the value they provide to their trol: interface to signal control vehicle behaviour and evaluation data. countries in more than 90 countries. firmware, user definable signal control Typical applications include automation We view our clients as a pivotal logic, manual and automated testing of work flow processes, modification of resource for ideas. Our industry lead-  Convincing 3D visualisation simulation parameters during run time, ing products combined with our desire and customised display options. Important and motivation to continue setting is that COM allows full flexibility and new standards guarantees a sound thus empowers the user to use his or investment for years to come. her own creativity to the fullest extent.

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