which traffic simulation software is best-updated...vissim. conclusions: • no software nails it...

Which Traffic Simulation Software is Best?

Mike Spack, PE, PTOE

Bryant Ficek, PE, PTOE

[email protected]

Calibrate to What???

Results = Reality?

Data Reduction = 76Hours

Synchro SimTraffic

Results (overall average delay) – Field vs Software

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

All‐Way Stop#1

All‐Way Stop#2

Multi‐LaneSignal #1



Single‐LaneRA #1

Single‐LaneRA #2

Single‐LaneRA #3

Single‐LaneRA #4

Multi‐LaneRA #1

Average Delay (secon

ds)

Intersections

Field Measurements

HCM2010

RODEL

Synchro

SimTraffic

VISSIM

All‐Way Stop#1

All‐Way Stop#2




Single‐Lane RA#1

Single‐Lane RA#2

Single‐Lane RA#3

Single‐Lane RA#4

Multi‐Lane RA#1

Results (Intersection LOS) – Field vs SoftwareLO

S A

LOS B

LOS D

LOS C

LOS E

LOS F

HCM2010SynchroVISSIM

SimTraffic

Synchro

SimTraffic

HCM2010SynchroVISSIM

Synchro

HCM2010

SimTrafficVISSIM

HCM2010Synchro

HCM2010

SimTraffic

SynchroVISSIM

HCM2010Synchro

HCM2010Synchro

RODEL RODEL RODEL

SimTrafficVISSIM

SimTrafficVISSIM

SimTrafficVISSIM ALL ALL

HCM2010SimTrafficVISSIM

95th Percentile Queues (vehicles) – Field vs Software

0

5

10

15

20

25

All‐Way Stop#1

All‐Way Stop#2




Single‐LaneRA #1

Single‐LaneRA #2

Single‐LaneRA #3

Single‐LaneRA #4

Multi‐LaneRA #1

95th Percentile

Que

ue (veh

icles)

Intersections

Field Measurements

HCM2010

RODEL

Synchro

SimTraffic

VISSIM

95th Percentile Queue (vehicles from measurements) – Field vs Software

‐15

‐10

‐5

0

5

10

15

All‐Way Stop#1

All‐Way Stop#2




Single‐LaneRA #1

Single‐LaneRA #2

Single‐LaneRA #3

Single‐LaneRA #4

Multi‐LaneRA #1

Num

ber o

f Veh

icles from th

e Field Measuremen

ts

Field Measurements

HCM2010

RODEL

Synchro

SimTraffic

VISSIM

95th Percentile Queue (% from measurements) – Field vs Software

‐200%

0%

200%

400%

600%

800%

1000%

1200%

1400%

1600%

All‐Way Stop#1

All‐Way Stop#2




Single‐LaneRA #1

Single‐LaneRA #2

Single‐LaneRA #3

Single‐LaneRA #4

Multi‐LaneRA #1

Percen

t from 95th Pe

rcen

tile Que

ue Field M

easuremen

ts

Field Measurements

HCM2010

RODEL

Synchro

SimTraffic

VISSIM

Conclusions:

• No Software Nails it

• Initial Use of HCM2010 may be Sufficient

• Experience Matters (Regional Calibration)• Round Your Results (No Tenth of a Second Delays)

• Accurate Results for Long‐Term Improvements are Questionable at Best

• Models are Better at Predicting Delay than Queues

Next Steps –More Questions to be Answered:

• What factors have the most influence on achieving better results?

• How many factors should be adjusted before it’s sufficient?

• Would a pass/fail system be better than A to F?

• Should more than one software be used on a project?

which traffic simulation software is best-updated...vissim. conclusions: • no software nails it...

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