Skip to main content

Software solution for pedestrian simulation

VisWalk from PTV is a pedestrian simulation tool specifically designed to assist railway station operators, city planners, architects and event managers in planning and coordinating their projects. The software allows planners to optimise pedestrian flows in and outside buildings.
January 31, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
VisWalk from PTV is a pedestrian simulation tool specifically designed to assist railway station operators, city planners, architects and event managers in planning and coordinating their projects. The software allows planners to optimise pedestrian flows in and outside buildings.

With VisWalk the capacity of railway and underground stations can be calculated, optimal walking routes for travellers identified, queuing behaviour at ticket counters assessed, evacuation analysis performed and shop locations analysed. During the planning phase it is also possible to use VisWalk to optimise railway station design based on these criteria. At the click of a button, the software tool visualises the simulation in 3D.

Software solution for pedestrian simulation According to PTV product manager Dr Tobias Kretz, a leading expert in pedestrian simulation, VisWalk models pedestrian behaviour like no other simulation software. "One of the special features is dynamic routing. Pedestrians, just as vehicle drivers, usually try to arrive at their destination as quickly as possible. Often the quickest route is very similar to the shortest route. However, there are situations where this rule does not apply. The simplest of which is when a large group of pedestrians is doing a u-turn," Kretz says.

"Therefore, VisWalk includes both shortest and quickest path routing in the simulation."

Related Content

  • Time to set standards for mapping noise and stick to them
    February 25, 2016
    Designer and provider of acoustics and air pollution simulation software for environmental modelling, SoundPlan, is calling on the bodies responsible for setting noise standards around the world to ensure that they implement and maintain high quality standards with thorough test procedures and scenarios. According to SoundPlan, the USA’s Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Noise Model (TNM) is identified as an example of poor practice in this arena. When testing the standards SoundPlan software engi
  • Standardised technology aids low cost wireless communication
    November 13, 2012
    In the UK, the necessary radio spectrum has been identified and standardised technology developed to allow cost effective wireless communication between cars, devices and other ‘machines’. This by Professor William Webb. A world free of traffic congestion, with intelligent systems directing vehicles and alerting drivers to free parking spaces may sound a far off fantasy to motorists stuck in seemingly endless queues on the outskirts of London. Yet this is a scenario not confined to the world of science fict
  • Awards finalists for 2024
    April 16, 2024
    The wait is over! This morning, at the end of the official opening of Intertraffic Amsterdam 2024 from 08:30 to 10:15 in Intertraffic Summit Theatre 1, the winners of the Intertraffic Awards will be announced. The three Intertraffic Awards up for grabs are: the Green Globe Award, which symbolises innovation that delivers significant environmental benefits; the Inspiration Award, which highlights groundbreaking products inspiring the industry in new directions; and the User Experience Award, which recognises excellence in control systems for the end user. There are five nominees in each of the three categories, representing mobility solutions manufacturers from 11 different countries.
  • Fixed or wireless communications?
    February 3, 2012
    Optelecom-NKF's Coen Hooghiemstra considers the play-offs and pay-offs involved when deciding whether to go for fixed or wireless communications solutions