GATE WORK

SCHOOL OF PLANNING
AND ARCHIRECTURE,
NEW DELHI
[OVERVIEW OF TRANSPORT SOFTWARES]
SUBMITTED AS GATE WORK FOR JUNE , 2011
Megha
 NEED OF TRANSPORT MODELLING

 Transport Planners require some means to test their proposals and make
decisions.

 This may include the use of a traffic model.

 This is a combination of computer software and data which represents road

traffic flow in an idealised form.

 Traffic models assist transport planners to design schemes and measures to

manage adverse traffic effects.

 Traffic models inform the decision making process. They are not a substitute for
it.

Introduction to Modelling – The Limitations of Traffic Models

 Traffic models represent reality in the context of what is known already.

 They can predict future traffic flows with infinite precision.

 BUT only if the input data is 100% accurate and 100% complete!

 Planning authorities collect as little information as possible, and never a full data
set, because of the cost and disruption to traffic.

 So in reality traffic models cannot predict the future with infinite precision.

 Traffic models cannot be more reliable than their data inputs.

TRANSPORT MODELLING SOFTWARE UTILITY  Fundamentally they should

indicate how traffic flows and what the costs of travel are.
TRANSPORT MODELLING TOOLS AVAILABLE

 Traffic engineering and management – bus priority models, single junction

models, local centre models, corridor models (VISSIM, PARAMICS, AIMSUM,
DYNASIM)

 Assignment modelling – strategic town and city centre models, area action
plans, major road schemes (SATURN, PARAMICS, VISUM)

 Multi-modal and land use models – regional modelling, North Wales Transport
Model, PRISM, SITM (VISUM, OMNITRANS, CUBE, MEPLAN)

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SOFTWARE TOOLS

 Conventional tools such as LINSIG, TRANSYT, ARCADY and PICADY still

used but a modeller would not regard them as a traffic modelling tool.

 Microsimulation tools such as VISSIM and PARAMICS increasingly been

used

 Applications - bus (or LRT) priority, vehicle actuation, queue relocation, blocking
back effects

 Microsimulation model should also be considered if the effects of any scheme or

development are felt over a wider area

 Specialist modelling firms consider microsimulation modelling to be simply an

extension of the standard traffic engineering techniques but this ignores the high
level of capability required to model vehicle actuation and bus priority.

 VISSIM generally favoured by TfL and is perceived by some as being more

forgiving to the user. However, there are many examples of PARAMICS being
accepted by TfL

 No route choice within them therefore dynamic routeing is not required.

TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT SOFTWARE TOOLS

  Generally undertaken over a wider area than most microsimulation models (for
example town and city centres)

 Uses tools such as SATURN.

 Assists in assessing the area-wider impacts of schemes as they model the

reassignment of

 Conventional tools have been challenged in recent years by newer software

tools such as PARAMICS and VISUM.

 Many examples of town and city centre PARAMICS models.

 The dynamic assignment capabilities of PARAMICS are generally accepted as

being superior to those of VISSIM.

 Junction analysis will still be required using conventional tools such as

TRANSYT and LINSIG.

 Able to model the effects of bus operations but they should not be confused with
multi-modal models.

MULTI-MODAL AND LAND USE MODELS - SOFTWARE TOOLS

 Standard models deal with the effects of vehicular traffic with fixed vehicular trip
matrices

 Multi-modal models use elasticity models to forecast not only vehicle

assignment but modal split

 Often use combination of TRIPS (or CUBE) software, which handles the multi-
modal element and SATURN software which handles the traffic assignment

 Should not confuse multi-modal models with conventional assignment models

which model bus operations

 Typically cover areas such as large cities or sub regions. Larger land use
transport models such as PRISM (Policy Responsive Integrated Strategic
 Model) take account of changes in the location and intensity of land uses as
well how transport can affect land uses and the economy

 Specialist modelling consultancies develop bespoke modelling tools

(MEPLAN)

 Several areas in which they could be applied such as assessment of new

growth points, RSS and LDF processes

ITS MODELLING - SOFTWARE TOOLS

 Microsimulation has ability to model the effects of intelligent transport systems

 MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation), SCOOT (Split Cycle

Offset Optimisation Technique) and ATM (Active Traffic Management).

 Allows user to test impacts of a MOVA or SCOOT signal network before they
are implemented on the ground (PCMOVA)

 MOVA can be linked to VISSIM and Paramics and there are also examples of
PARAMICS being linked to SCOOT and ATM (on the M42 and M25 for
example)

PEDESTRIAN MODELLING - SOFTWARE TOOLS

 Paxport

 Legion

 Spatial analysis modelling

TRAFFIC MODELING SOFTWARE
HCS

HCS Analysis - This section discusses the use of the Highway Capacity Software
program to perform analysis of interchange and freeway operations reflective of
different design alternatives and traffic volumes. The two key modules that will
examined in the documentation include the FREEWAY OPERATIONS and the RAMPS.
For each of these two, examples will be provided showing the traffic and geometry of
the facility and the corresponding screens from the Highway Capacity Software will be
provided to serve a guide for entering the information.

HCS+T7F is now available! is now available. 

 This latest version of the Highway Capacity SoftwareTM is now integrated with
TRANSYT-7FTM for signal timing optimization within the new HCS+T7FTM
package.
 HCS+TM (Release 5.4) includes HCS+ Interchanges implementing the Highway
Capacity Manual (HCM) Chapter 26 methodolgy for Interchange Ramp
Terminals.
 TRANSYT-7F (Release 11.3) is included with HCS+, able to import HCS+Signals
and HCS+Interchanges files for optimization and one-touch CORSIM animation.

Netsim

NetSim is a comprehensive tool for studying computer networks. NetSim features

state of the art network simulation technology, and comes with additional offerings that
enhance and quicken students’ learning, and prepare them better for their career.

Simulation

 Model networks with various technologies, protocols, devices and traffic types.

  Study Performance metrics at network, link by link and packet levels
 Analyze and graph, inter and intra protocol performance by varying modeling
attributes
 Learn from detailed simulation lab experiments
 Built as per International Standards set forth by IEEE, ITU and IETF
 View the different technologies in the Standard Version

The Boson NetSim Network Simulator is an application that simulates Cisco Systems'
networking hardware and software and is designed to aid the user in learning the Cisco
IOS command structure. 

QRS II
QRS II - Version 7 - Quick Response System II runs the four-step planning process –
trip generation, trip distribution, mode split, traffic/transit assignment – for highway and
transit forecasting. Networks and data are entered and edited graphically using the
powerful General Network Editor.

Comparative study of EMME/2 and QRS II for modeling a small community

Arc GIS
ArcGIS - People are using ArcGIS in all types of organizations to improve their
workflows and solve their most challenging issues. ArcGIS helps you with:

* Asset/data management including systems integration, claims/case management,

service/territory area management, and constituent/customer management
* Planning and analysis such as forecasting and risk analysis
* Business operations such as call center/dispatching; monitoring and tracking; field
data collection; inspections, maintenance and operations; and routing
* Situational awareness including decision support and customer/public access
ArcGIS is a system for people who rely on accurate geographic information to make
decisions. It facilitates collaboration and lets you easily author data, maps, globes, and
models on the desktop and serve them out for use on a desktop, in a browser, or in the
field, depending on the needs of your organization.

Arc Info
ArcInfo - ArcInfo is the most complete desktop GIS. It includes all the functionality of
ArcEditor and ArcView and adds advanced spatial analysis, extensive data
manipulation, and high-end cartography tools. Organizations use the power of ArcInfo
every day to create, edit, and analyze their data in order to make better decisions,
faster. ArcInfo is the de facto standard for GIS. ArcInfo can:
* Perform advanced GIS data analysis and modeling.
* Take advantage of tools designed for overlay analysis, proximity analysis, surface
analysis, and raster processing and conversion.
* Publish and convert data in many formats.
* Create and manage personal geodatabases, multiuser geodatabases, and feature
datasets.
* Use high-end cartography tools to generate professional-quality, publication-ready
maps.
* Design customized symbols and place sophisticated annotation and labels on your
maps.

Arc View
ArcView - ArcView is geographic information system (GIS) software for visualizing,
managing, creating, and analyzing geographic data. Using ArcView, you can
understand the geographic context of your data, allowing you to see relationships and
identify patterns in new ways.
With ArcView, you can
Author maps and interact with your data by generating reports and charts and printing
and embedding your maps in other documents and applications.
Save time using map templates to create consistent style in your maps.
Build process models, scripts, and workflows to visualize and analyze your data.
Read, import, and manage more than 70 different data types and formats including
demographics, facilities, CAD drawings, imagery, Web services, multimedia, and
metadata.
Communicate more efficiently by printing, publishing, and sharing your GIS data and
dynamic content with others. 
Use tools such as Find, Identify, Measure, and Hyperlink to discover information not
available when working with static paper maps. 
Make better decisions and solve problems faster. 

Avenue Programming
Avenue Programming

CUBE Voyager
CUBE Voyager - Cube Voyager combines the latest in Citilabs' technologies for the
forecasting of personal travel. Cube Voyager uses a modular and script-based structure
allowing the incorporation of any model methodology ranging from standard four-step
models, to discrete choice to activity-based approaches. Advanced methodologies
provide junction-based capacity restraint for highway analysis and discrete choice
multipath transit pathbuilding and assignment. Cube Voyager includes highly flexible
network and matrix calculators for the calculation of travel demand and for the detailed
comparison of scenarios.
Cube Voyager was designed to provide an open and user-friendly framework for
modeling a wide variety of planning policies and improvements at the urban, regional
and long-distance level. Cube Voyager brings together these criteria with a
comprehensive library of planning functions applied under the general Cube framework.
This makes the management of data a snap, and the coding of complex methodologies
simple via a step-by-step approach.

The FTP Voyager Software Development Kit (SDK) allows you to power your
application's FTP capabilities with same engine used in the FTP Voyager client. The
SDK exposes FTP Voyager's FTP capabilities through a thoroughly documented and
easy to integrate DLL. This flexible interface gives you the ability to use the. Free
download of FTP Voyager Software Development Kit 12.3.0.1, size 6.38 Mb. 

DYNASMART-P
DYNASMART-P version 1.3.0

Dynamic Network Assignment-Simulation Model for Advanced Roadway

Telematics (Planning version)
DYNASMART-P version 1.3.0, released by the Federal Highway Administration through
McTrans in February 2007, provides many new features and enhancements. These
include:

 Convenient import of network and demand data from other planning models
 Click-and-drag network/control creation and editing interface based on
background imagery
 Easy conversion of baseline static OD matrix to time-dependent OD matrices
 Generation of default movements and signal control data for fast deployment
 Improved loading and display speed for large-scale network datasets
 Calculation and display of link- and network-level toll revenue for HOT or tolling
applications
 Easy redistribution of user classes within vehicle and path files. This allows for
flexible implementation of various planning scenarios
 Capability of modeling large networks

 FHWA Corporate Research and Technology - DYNASMART-P

Em2ProCoresims

EMME/2/3
  Emme  is the successor to EMME/2, the pioneering software package that first
brought multimodal equilibrium modelling to professional practice.
 Emme is a French-English acronym for Equilibre Multimodal / Multimodal
Equilibrium, today's industry-standard assignment method.
 The worldwide Emme community pronounces it em-mee, em, or em-muh. As
with the types of models you can build with Emme, the choice is yours.

INtRO - Emme is a complete travel demand forecasting system for urban, regional, and
national transportation planning. Make informed transport policy decisions with Emme's
comprehensive set of tools for demand modelling, multimodal network modelling,
visualization and analysis. And have confidence in the integrity of your results.
Emme 3 combines powerful, proven modelling capabilities with professional productivity
tools. Visit the transport modelling page to learn about the sophisticated transport
modelling technology that Emme can bring to your application. Or, visit the software
features page for details on how the Emme Desktop's integrated editing, analysis, and
visualization capabilities can help you develop and express your models to all the
stakeholders involved.

Syncro / SimTraffic
Syncro/SimTraffic - Synchro is a software application for optimizing traffic signal timing and
performing capacity analysis. The software optimizes splits, offsets, and cycle lengths
for individual intersections, an arterial, or a complete network. SimTraffic performs micro
simulation and animation of vehicular traffic. With SimTraffic, Individual vehicles are
modeled and displayed traversing a street network. SimTraffic models signalized and
un-signalized intersections, and freeway sections.

Synchro 8

Synchro is a macroscopic analysis and optimization software application. Synchro

implements the Intersection Capacity Utilization (ICU) 2003 method for determining
intersection capacity. Version 8 also supports the HCM 2010 methodology for signalized
intersections and roundabouts. Due to ease-of-use, traffic engineers are modeling
within days thus adding to the number of reasons Synchro remains the leading traffic
analysis application. 

SimTraffic 8

SimTraffic is a powerful, easy-to-use traffic simulation software application. SimTraffic

performs micro simulation and animation of vehicular and pedestrian related traffic. With
SimTraffic, individual vehicles are modeled and displayed traversing a street network.
SimTraffic models signalized and unsignalized intersections as well as freeway sections
with cars, trucks, pedestrians, and busses. Unlike a number of other modeling
applications, SimTraffic animation is displayed while the simulation is performed. Data
entry is intuitive and efficient - with a single mouse click the same data set created with
Synchro can be used to run simulations within SimTraffic. 

Tran Plan
TranPlan

 After defining the network and socio-economic characteristics for the network,
the network is ready to be run through Tranplan to determine the loaded traffic
volumes and travel speeds. The programs to perform this step of the process
include a series of MapBasic and Fortran programs which will export the network
information to text format and write out a Tranplan control file that contains all the
necessary elements to perform a model run (Build the network, identifies skim
trees, trip distribution, matrix operations, and assigns the traffic).
 A Guide to Transportation Modeling Using TRANPLAN for Computer Simulation
of Strategies for Managing the Rural Road Infrastructure (PDF white paper link)
 This City-wide traffic model was developed, using the TRANPLAN transportation
modeling software. The model's network and zone system were developed to
provide an appropriate level of detail for local circulation system planning, while
 incorporating the influences of regional through traffic on the City arterial system;
this was accomplished by developing a focused model.
 Montana DOT white papers on Tranplan 21 

Trans CAD

TransCAD - TransCAD is the first and only Geographic Information System (GIS)
designed specifically for use by transportation professionals to store, display, manage,
and analyze transportation data. TransCAD combines GIS and transportation modeling
capabilities in a single integrated platform, providing capabilities that are unmatched by
any other package. TransCAD can be used for all modes of transportation, at any scale
or level of detail. TransCAD provides:
•A powerful GIS engine with special extensions for transportation 
•Mapping, visualization, and analysis tools designed for transportation applications
•Application modules for routing, travel demand forecasting, public transit, logistics, site
location, and territory management.

Overview

TransCAD is the first and only Geographic Information System (GIS) designed
specifically for use by transportation professionals to store, display, manage, and
analyze transportation data. TransCAD combines GIS and transportation modeling
capabilities in a single integrated platform, providing capabilities that are unmatched by
any other package. TransCAD can be used for all modes of transportation, at any
geographic scale or level of detail. TransCAD provides:

•A powerful GIS engine with special extensions for transportation

•Mapping, visualization, and analysis tools designed for transportation applications

•State-of-the-art modules for travel demand forecasting, public transit, logistics,

routing, site location, and territory management.
TransCAD has applications for all types of transportation data and for all modes of
transportation, and is ideal for building transportation information and decision support
systems.

TransCAD runs on readily-available hardware under Microsoft Windows and embraces

virtually all desktop computing standards.This has two important benefits:

•You can acquire and install TransCAD at a much lower cost than any other integrated
GIS and transportation modeling solution

•You don’t have to build custom applications or complicated data

interchange modules to perform transportation analysis with GIS data A Powerful GIS
for Transportation TransCAD is the most capable GIS for transportation applications.
With TransCAD

you can create and customize maps, build and maintain geographic data sets, and
perform many different types of spatial

analysis. TransCAD includes sophisticated GIS features such as polygon

overlay,buffering, and geocoding, and has an open system architecture that supports
data sharing on local- and wide-area networks.

Transims
Transims - TMIP sponsors the research and development of the TRansportation
ANalysis and SIMulation System (TRANSIMS). TRANSIMS is the next generation of
travel modeling, microsimulation and air quality analysis tools. Through TMIP the
planning community can stay up to date on the development and delivery of TRANSIMS
products.

TRANSIMS Open Source

The Transportation Analysis and Simulation System (TRANSIMS), is an integrated set
of tools developed to conduct regional transportation system analyses. With the goal of
establishing TRANSIMS as an ongoing public resource available to the transportation
community, TRANSIMS is made available under the NASA Open Source Agreement
Version 1.3
Software 

Trans Modeler
TransModeler - TransModeler is a powerful and versatile traffic simulation package
applicable to a wide array of traffic planning and modeling tasks. TransModeler can
simulate all kinds of road networks, from freeways to downtown areas, and can analyze
wide area multimodal networks in great detail and with high fidelity. You can model and
visualize the behavior of complex traffic systems in a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional
GIS environment to illustrate and evaluate traffic flow dynamics, traffic signal and ITS
operations, and overall network performance.

UTPS 
UTPS - Urban (or UMTA) Transportation Planning System

 Simulating Traffic for Incident Management and ITS Investment Decisions

 Considering Network Demand Issues in GIS Transportation Data Modeling

Vissim
Vissim - Visual Solutions' VisSim is the fastest and easiest-to-use dynamic simulation
and model-based system development software available. VisSim is up to 10 times
faster than competitive simulation products. The free VisSim Viewer lets anyone run
VisSim diagrams.

THE VISSIM OVERVIEW

The core product, VisSim, is used for general modeling, simulation and control system
design applications. VisSim is an award winning graphical block diagram language for
modeling and simulating complex dynamic systems.
VisSim and addons

VisSim's visual interface offers a simple method for constructing and simulating large-
scale complex dynamic systems; its math engine provides fast, accurate solutions for
linear, nonlinear, continuous time, discrete time, time varying and hybrid system
designs.

With VisSim, you can quickly develop virtual prototypes of any dynamic system. Models
are built by simply sliding blocks into the workarea and wiring them together with the
mouse. Each block of the diagram performs a function. You can also create blocks in C,
Fortran or Pascal and add them to the VisSim block library. After a model is built, a click
of the "Go" button immediately gives interactive results.

Many Addons

VisSim addon modules are pictured at right and extend the functionality of VisSim to
areas like frequency domain analysis: VisSim/Analyze, real-time hardware-in-the-loop
prototyping and control: VisSim/Real-TimePRO, and efficient C-code
generation:VisSim/C-Code. The C code can be compiled and run on any platform that
supports an ANSI C compiler.

VisSim/Embedded Controls Developer

VisSim/ECD is a bundle of VisSim + C-Code + Fixed-Point + Target Support to let you

model, simulate, and build embedded systems. VisSim/ECD supports on-chip
peripherals, including PWM, ADC, SPI, I2C, encoders, and capture. VisSim/ECD
automatically converts the diagram to ANSI C code and compiles, links, and downloads
the code to an embedded target. VisSim/ECD includes its own RTOS with background
tasks, and can set the main sampling interrupt rate to over 1MHz.

VisSim/StateCharts

VisSim/StateCharts adds OMG UML 2.1 Compliant graphical state chart editing,

simulation and code generation to the VisSim tool chain. Combined with a built-in C
interpreter, this addon allows fast and reliable development of complex control
applications. Whether you need to decode a serial protocol, or step through a complex
start up or shut down sequence, VisSim/StateCharts is the perfect complement to any
control development effort.

VisSim/Comm

VisSim/Comm is a bundle of VisSim + a comprehensive library of communication blocks.

VisSim/Comm forms an integrated solution for the modeling and simulation of analog,
digital, or mixed-mode, end-to-end communication systems. Pre-built blocks like signal
sources, encoders/decoders, modulators/demodulators, filters, channels, RF
components and PLLs make it easy to build, maintain, and modify even the most
complex communication system models.