Skip to main content

Aimsun helps TfL retain detail in traffic modelling

Transport for London (TfL) has selected Transport Simulation Systems’ Aimsun modelling software following a lengthy evaluation. With London’s population predicted to reach 10million by 2030, the authority needed to increase its modelled area by a factor of 10 to more than 2,300km2 along with improved cyclist, pedestrian and air quality predictions. For a market assessment it divided its modelling requirements into three categories: tactical - for city wide policy evaluation, micro-simulation for modelli
September 25, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
1466 Transport for London (TfL) has selected 2195 Transport Simulation Systems’ Aimsun modelling software following a lengthy evaluation. With London’s population predicted to reach 10million by 2030, the authority needed to increase its modelled area by a factor of 10 to more than 2,300km2 along with improved cyclist, pedestrian and air quality predictions.

For a market assessment it divided its modelling requirements into three categories: tactical - for city wide policy evaluation, micro-simulation for modelling London’s 23 main traffic corridors, and optimisation of the junction/network with some 6,300 signalised junctions.  3D visualisation was also specified.

It evaluated three systems in each category by providing potential suppliers with data regarding a particular area and setting out up to 70 outcome requirements for each level. Interconnection between the proposed systems in the various layers was also evaluated.

TfL’s lead modelling specialist Vladimir Vorotovic said 70% of the score weighting related to the technical capability and service provision with the remainder being financial considerations.

Beyond predicting travel times, the new systems had to accommodate an expected tripling in the number of cyclists, enhanced emissions modelling (including 3D evaluation of building/canyons) and linking the outputs to the other layers. The aim of the cross linking is to retain the individual vehicle movements detail used in junction modelling at the corridor level (using Aimsun hybrid simulation) along with 3D visualisation - and to inform the tactical model.

According to Vorotovic, once implemented the system will enable changes made at individual junctions to be evaluated on a corridor level or even across the entire modelled area. It will also allow the effects of policy changes to be modelled at street level on individual junctions.

Related Content

  • May 7, 2020
    Global cities transform space for post-Covid transport
    Glimpses are beginning to emerge of how European and US cities plan to change the way people travel.
  • October 13, 2015
    Transport in the round
    The ITF’s Mary Crass tells Colin Sowman why future transport demands will require governments to overcome the silo effect of individual single-modal authorities. The only global multimodal transport policy organisation,” is how Mary Crass describes the International Transport Forum (ITF), which is housed at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As head of policy and summit preparation at the ITF she says: “All other organisations are either regional or have a modal focus, we cove
  • May 17, 2012
    Two initiatives announced to cut road works disruption in London
    A joint US$1.6 million fund to research and develop new technology to reduce the disruption caused by road works was announced yesterday by UK Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Confirmation of a lane rental scheme for roadworks was also announced at the same time.
  • September 11, 2015
    London’s pedestrian countdown technology to be doubled by summer 2016
    The number of pedestrian countdown sites across London will be doubled by summer 2016, the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed. The technology forms a key part of London’s first Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and replaces the ‘blackout’ period on traffic signals with a numerical counter to show how long pedestrians have left to safely cross the road. The Mayor had set TfL a target of upgrading 400 crossings – 10 per cent of all those in London – with the technology by April 2016. This targ