Integration of Transportation System Analyses in Cube Wade L. White, AICP Citilabs Inc

A comprehensive transportation planning system  Cube has two parts:  Cube Base: the user interface comprised of 3 sections: –Application Manager : flow-chart style tool for building model systems –Scenario Manager: tool for applying the model to multiple scenarios –Graphics: editing of all data in text, tabular and graphical form  ‘Functional Libraries: –VOYAGER –TP+ –TRANPLAN –TRIPS –CARGO –AVENUE –DYNASIM –Analyst –LAND (in development) –LOGIT (in development) Cube Avenue

Transportation modeling tools  Macroscopic Modeling  Mesoscopic Modeling  Microscopic Modeling

Macroscopic Modeling  Macroscopic Models generally consider the entire system and estimate routing and flows through a network for a time period.  Currently used for almost all strategic (long-range) planning.  FSUTMS Models  Very fast analysis of very large areas.  Models the behavior of people taking into account: –Why people are making trips –Why they select a particular mode –Why they select a particular route

Cube Voyager  the latest technology for the forecasting of personal travel.  a modular and script-based structure allowing the incorporation of any model methodology  HCM junction-based capacity restraint for highway analysis  includes highly flexible network and matrix calculators for the calculation of travel demand and for the detailed comparison of scenarios.  designed to provide an open and user-friendly framework for modeling at any level  This makes the management of data a snap, and the coding of complex methodologies simple via a step-by-step approach.

Cube Voyager Model

Highway Traffic Flow

Mesoscopic Models  MESOscopic are MORE detailed than MACROscopic travel demand models but are LESS detailed than MICROscopic simulation models.  Cube Avenue, a mesoscopic dynamic assignment model is available for CUBE.  With mesoscopic models, it is still possible to quickly analyze larger areas with a more detailed model which overcomes the pitfalls of the macroscopic travel demand models. –Takes into account intersection configurations and controls –More detailed estimates of delay, travel time, and capacities –Enforces capacity limitations and the effects of queues ‘blocking back’ –Models flow curves and changing demand throughout an analysis period –Allows vehicles to respond to traffic conditions and change their route

Cube Avenue  representing vehicles as discrete packets or individual vehicles  assigning a specific time of departure from the origin point in the network to each packet or vehicle  routing the vehicles along multiple paths in response to dynamic traffic conditions  representing queues and bottlenecks including ‘blocking back’ or the formation of queues on a roadway segment or at an intersection which spill back up-stream to block roadway segments which feed into the roadway segments  Region-wide, corridor-level  Evacuation modeling, greater analysis of geometrics, traffic control and ITS strategies  Quantify impacts of upstream traffic congestion  Summary of Avenue: –Measure queuing at intersections and merge points in a network –Isolate secondary impacts from one intersection through another –Evaluate the benefits of ITS (intelligent transportation system) projects –Simulate alternative infrastructure, operational, and policy changes to optimize emergency evacuation plans and strategies –Test strategies to improve arrival and departure from stadiums and other special-event facilities

NERPM Dynamic Traffic Assignment Build TOD Vehicle Trips Establish Dynamic Assignment Parameters Dynamic Traffic Assignment

NERPM DTA Animation

Microscopic Modeling  Microscopic models are VERY detailed and take into account vehicle’s interactions with the following aspects: –The roadway geometry (lanes, turning lanes, weaving areas, exclusive lanes) –Physical size of different types of vehicles –Details of traffic control (signal timing, phasing, geometric configurations)  Microsimulations are Stochastic (contain random processes) which emulates: –The fluctuating nature of traffic flows –Variations in human behavior and responses  Microsimulations are Multimodal and can consider the effects of traffic interacting with all other users of the transportation system: –Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Motorcyclists –Trucks and other Heavy Vehicles –Transit vehicles, Taxis, Light and Heavy rail vehicles

Cube Dynasim  Integration with demand models –Polygon select of an area and export of data to the microsimulation. Saves enormous time  Stand alone microsimulation –Layered approach much more intelligent than other software  2d and 3d animation –Export of shape layers and images –Use of industry standard 3ds files for high quality 3d –True sharing of results via exportable animations  Scenario-based Simulation –Only one Dynasim project for all simulation alternatives –Eliminates redundancy –Ensures consistency  Analysis of Multiple Runs inherent to the system –Automatically performs multiple runs and summarizes results –Ensures a robust analysis with no additional burden on the user  Interactive Results –Completed simulations may be exported to a DynaViews program –Interactive Animations with the same features as Dynasim –Freely distributable

Building a Dynasim Simulation

Dynasim Simulation Roundabout Simulation Bus Terminal Simulation

Summary  Modern software platform providing: –integrated environment for regional planning –regional traffic simulation –corridor level detailed project evaluation Cube Voyager for regional planning – traffic flows Cube Dynasim for corridor simulation = animations Cube Avenue (DTA) for region- wide simulation – queues/ delays

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