Modelling and Simulation of Transportation Network
Systems.
INTRODUCTION
Modeling and simulation methods are essential elements in the design and operation
of transportation systems. Congestion problems in cities worldwide have prompted at
all levels of government and industry a proliferation of interest in Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) that include advanced supply and demand management
techniques. Such techniques include real-time traffic control measures and real-time
traveler information and guidance systems whose purpose is to assist travelers in
making departure time, mode and route choice decisions. Transportation researchers
have developed models and simulators for use in the planning, design and operations
of such systems. This course depends heavily on recent research results and is focused
on the introduction of all necessary theoretical background knowldege needed by
transportation today’s transportation engineers and professionals in order to carry out
all necessary studies that they will be faced with.
The course studies theories and applications of transportation network demand and
supply models and simulation techniques. It provides an introduction to today’s:
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most sophisticated traffic simulation models
demand modeling methods
and related analytical techniques, including:
o discrete choice models and their application to travel choices and
driving behavior
o origin-destination estimation
o prediction of traffic congestion
o traffic flow models and simulation methods (microscopic, mesoscopic
and macroscopic)
o and alternative dynamic traffic assignment methods.
Content
Fundamentals: Core concepts, understandings and tools (80%)
Latest Developments: Recent advances and future trends (10%)
Industrial Applications: Linking theory and real-world (10%)
Delivery Methods
Lecture: Delivery of material in a lecture format (90%)
Labs: Demonstrations, experiments, simulations (10%)
Level
Introductory: (75%)
Specialized: (15%)
Advanced: (10%)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Understand principles of transportation planning and traffic modelling.
2. Understand transportation network demand and supply models.
3. Understand the capabilities offered by the latest transportation modelling
software tools.
4. Understand the methodological framework needed to carry out an integrated
transportation and mobility study.
5. Understand the data needs.
6. Be able to understand the difficulties and resources needed to carry out a
transportation study.
7. Be able to carry out basic transportation engineering exercises.
PARTICIPANTS’ PROFILE
This course is intended for analysts, engineers, managers and planners, as well as
industry, government and academic researchers who seek to understand, design,
analyse and predict performance and operational characteristics of urban
transportation systems. Participants with backgrounds in diverse areas such as traffic
engineering, systems engineering, transportation planning, operations management,
operations research and control systems are expected to have a smoother introductory
phase and understand easily the basic concepts of transportation planning and traffic
engineering.
OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM
The course consists of a series of lectures, including short software demonstrations
and case studies that develop the concepts and techniques and demonstrate their
applications.
Course schedule
1st class: Monday, 9th of July 07 MOBILITY MODELING
08:00 – 08:30 Opening
08:30 – 12:00
“Introduction – Traffic Flow Theory” – Prof. Dr. Thanasis Ziliaskopoulos
12:00 – 14:00
Lunch breach
14:00 – 17:00
“Traffic Assignment models” – Prof. Dr. Thanasis Ziliaskopoulos
2nd class: Tuesday, 10th of July 07 MOBILITY MODELING
08:00 – 12:00 - “Demand and Supply for transport: State-of-the-art models”
- “Intelligent Transportation Systems, Dynamic Traffic Assignment and
future trends in transportation modelling” – Prof. Dr. Thanasis
Ziliaskopoulos
3rd class: Wednesday, 11th of July 07 INTERGRATED MOBILITY PLANNING
TOOLS (GIS)
08:00 – 12:00 GIS and database (cont.- GIS practise and exercises) – Dr. Tran Dinh
Lan, Mr. Nguyen Van Thao
12:00 – 14:00
Lunch breach
14:00 – 15:00
Integrated Mobility Planning – Prof. Dr. Thanasis Ziliaskopoulos
“GIS tools and other software used in transportation studies”
15:00 – 17:00
Discussion – Prof. Dr. Thanasis Ziliaskopoulos and Dr. Tran Dinh Lan
EXERCISES – Submission of home works
The following lecture topics will be addressed as part of the course:
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Introduction to Transportation Network Models
Traffic Flow Theory and Simulation Approaches
Microscopic, Mesoscopic and Macroscopic Traffic Simulation Models.
Network Supply Models: Static and Dynamic
Behavior in Networks
Discrete Choice Analysis
Route and Departure Time Choice
Estimation Methods of Origin - Destination Flows from Traffic Counts
Prediction of Origin - Destination Flows
Microsimulation of Users' Behaviors
Short introduction to ITS - Intelligent Transportation Systems
Supply/Demand Interactions, Equilibrium Models
Applications of Real-Time Systems
Simulation-based Dynamic Traffic Assignment Algorithms
Application of Modelling and Simulation to Traffic Management
Calibration and Validation of Traffic Simulation Models