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.

GIS/ Mapping & Location Based Systems

Related Content

  • July 31, 2012
    Russia's high speed toll link - aims and opportunities
    Construction of a new toll link between the Russian capital of Moscow and the country's second-largest city, the port of St Petersburg, is due to start in 2012. Here, ITS International takes look at the project to date and the opportunities for foreign companies to get involved. The construction of a new toll link between the Russian capital Moscow and the country's second-largest city St Petersburg has a number of aims. It will lead to the creation of a high-speed vehicular link between the two which will
    Read More
  • July 29, 2015
    Rapid progress with pure electric buses
    China is where most of the hybrid and pure electric buses will be made and sold over the coming decade, as discussed in the report by IDTechEx Research, Electric Buses 2015-2025. Given the concentration of government support on long pure electric range from hybrids and the far simpler pure electric buses, the latter are proving very popular. Indeed articulated and double decker buses are available in pure electric form in China. According to the latest statistics from the Chinese bus industry, the total
    Read More
  • April 9, 2014
    Buses services benefit from seamless Wi-Fi data transfer
    Ted Bowser explains how the almost total Wi-Fi coverage at Ride-On’s new bus garage is providing big benefits for the operator and passengers alike. The ability to download and upload data to and from the various systems on board buses has become central to mass transit operators’ business model. So when Ride-On, the public transportation system in Maryland’s Montgomery County, was moving one of its three depots into a bigger and purpose-built facility, connectivity was a key consideration.
    Read More
  • January 5, 2017
    City of London chiefs call for ban on new diesel cabs
    The City of London Corporation, local authority for the Square Mile, has called for a ban on new diesel private hire vehicles (PHVs) in its response to the Mayor of London’s air quality consultation. The Corporation also wants to see existing diesel PHVs removed from fleets as soon as possible to protect the public from exposure to toxic diesel emissions, with current licences phased out by 2020. The consultation had invited Londoners to have their say on the Mayor’s proposals to introduce a new Emiss
    Read More

Highlighted Content