Evaluation of Transportation/Air Quality Model Improvements Based on TOTEMS On-road Driving Style and Tailpipe Emissions Data

In June 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the “Operating Mode Distribution Generator” (OMDG) a tool for developing an operating mode distribution as an input to the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator model (MOVES). The tool converts basic information about traffic operations – idle time, grade, and average speed – into an operating mode distribution. This tool is designed to make project-level analyses for CO and PM hot-spots easier to conduct with basic traffic activity data. This paper compares the operating mode distributions obtained from this tool with those measured on a vehicle instrumented with the Total On-Board Tailpipe Emissions Measurement System (TOTEMS). TOTEMS generates a wealth of data, including a vehicle’s speed, idle time, and link grade – all of the inputs necessary to run the OMDG. The comparison is made for 4 signalized intersections on an urban arterial in Burlington, Vermont. This analysis shows that the OMDG, when compared to 31 test runs of an instrumented vehicle, was more accurate under circumstances of no to low grade and higher congestion (higher stop time). Estimation inaccuracies are most critical for specific operating modes -- for CO under high VSP conditions; for PM10 under braking conditions (i.e. VSP \u3c0). This investigation has developed a method for quantitatively evaluating tools designed to simplify a mobile emissions analysis. Future work will include the development of models for estimating operating modes of a traffic stream using traffic microsimulation and highlighting those parameters that are most critical to calibrate for obtaining an accurate operating mode distribution estimate

Estimating and exploiting the capacity of urban street networks

The paper deals with the problem of estimating and exploiting traffic capacity of different road elements (link, nodes, network) and presents the results obtained by performing a systematic investigation of the role that the parameters of a microscopic simulation model play on the macroscopic representation of different road elements. An analysis of traffic parameters has been performed using a microsimulation software package to identify the most important parameters affecting the arterial capacity and to calibrate driver's behavior models through macroscopic traffic observations

Results of Micro-Simulation Model for Exploring Drivers' Behavior on Acceleration Lanes

This study examines drivers' behavior on acceleration lanes, close to the convergence between the main and the secondary traffic streams, by means of traffic micro-simulations. Experimental data collected videotaping two acceleration lanes in Italy have been used to initially calibrate a simulation model and to validate it subsequently. The analyses had focused on both vehicles coming from the on-ramp, in terms of entrance points dispersion into the main traffic stream along the acceleration lanes, merging speeds, and acceleration rates reached, and on vehicles driving on the freeway right lane, in terms of vehicles categories, traffic volumes, and speeds. The maneuvers have been implemented in the TransModeler traffic simulation package and several scenarios have been considered, changing the traffic composition and the speeds at which drivers enter the acceleration lane from time to time. This led to obtain a large number of case studies, where the mutual influence between the two flows combined with the vehicle performances and the psychophysical characteristics of drivers, have led to an initial evaluation of the main variables in respect of which the required length for the specialized lanes depends. Road design guidelines' standards have been later compared to what was observed in reality and it can be claimed that the microscopic traffic model in some cases confirms the standards of road design guidelines while, in other cases, contradicts them

Evaluación de técnicas para la calibración del modelo de microsimulación: Transmodeler

Para hacer frente a la sostenibilidad en el transporte y la movilidad, son necesarias herramientas que evidencien una adecuada toma de decisiones y permitan comprender por medio de la experimentación las dinámicas urbanas propias de cada región; de tal forma que sea posible evaluar el impacto de la implementación de políticas de infraestructura, tecnología, entre otras. Actualmente, uno de los enfoques reconocidos para realizar esta tarea en la administración de las operaciones de tráfico y movilidad son las tecnologías ITS (acrónimo en inglés de Intelligent Transport System), donde la microsimulación se destaca como una herramienta importante dado que evalúa el impacto de diferentes medidas y estrategias de movilidad antes de ser implementadas en la realidad, proceso valioso ya que ahorra tiempo, dinero e incomodidades (Rodrigues, 2014). Para que los resultados obtenidos del microsimulador sean confiables, se debe garantizar que el modelo represente las condiciones urbanas y los patrones de conducción particulares de la zona bajo estudio; puesto que como se expone ampliamente en la literatura dichos patrones pueden variar, incluso entre ciudades cercanas (Treiber, 2013). El proceso de hallar los mejores valores de los parámetros para que los microsimuladores sean ajustados a las condiciones locales es conocido como calibración

Comparison of Arterial-Level Signal Coordination Features of Five Selected Software Programs

Synchro, PTV Vistro, TransModeler, Tru-Traffic, and TranSync are software programs that are part of different software packages that can all be used for traffic signal coordination tasks in countries that use ring-barrier signal controllers. Each program has different functions, features, inputs and outputs. Synchro, Vistro, and TransModeler all require volume inputs to make an analysis while Tru-Traffic and TranSync do not require volumes. These five programs were compared on the basis of their ability to assist the engineer in designing an optimized arterial coordination timing plan, which included automatic optimization, editing and viewing information presented on the time-space diagram, and selecting various timing plans and intersections to show the time-space diagram.The same arterial was modeled in all five programs and phase sequence and offset default optimization functions were executed separately for Synchro, Vistro, Tru-Traffic and TranSync. The average vehicle travel time and average number of vehicle stops were simulated using TransModeler, a third-party traffic simulation program to ensure results are not biased. Results showed that Synchro and Tru-Traffic had the lowest peak direction travel time through the whole arterial and the least number of stops. The optimization produced by Vistro and TranSync was 1 minute or 10% slower for the peak direction average travel time than Synchro and Tru-Traffic, which were tied. The southbound travel time for the optimization produced by Vistro was very similar to TranSync, but TranSync had the shortest northbound travel time. The northbound travel time from TranSync was 10% or 1 minute faster than the slowest off-peak (northbound) optimization which was performed by Vistro. TranSync had the greatest number of features for the time-space diagram and timing plan options compared to the other four programs.This research reviewed the features of each software package so practitioners can make a better educated decision on which program they would like to use. Using the right tool for the task can save project resources (time, budget, etc.) and contribute to efficiently designed timing plans

Framework and Guidelines for the Development of a Twin Cities Mesoscopic DTA Model

Large-scale Mesoscopic traffic simulation is a newly adopted tool due to recent advancements in traffic modeling as well as computer hardware. New studies show that modeling on a scale necessary to answer complicated questions such as diversion patterns around multi-corridor work zones is feasible. As with many research projects, the original objective of this project was adjusted to maximize the benefit from the final product. The initial objective was to create a framework and guidelines for the development of a Twin Cites Mesoscopic Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) model. Discoveries during the course of the project as well as MnDOT priorities and urgent needs directed the project away from the development of guidelines and more toward the proof-of-concept and the development of the foundation for such a metro-wide model. In addition, a parallel MnDOT project, undertaken by a consulting group using the DynusT application, developed an almost metro-wide model. The project described in this report, changed its scope to treat this parallel project as a case study and identify its future utility beyond its immediate goals, which were to determine the most cost-effective construction phasing for several projects during the 2017-2020 construction seasons

Revisión del estado del arte (no sistemática) sobre el uso de algoritmos genéticos en la calibración de modelos de micro simulación vehicular

Este trabajo propone una revisión del estado del arte entre 2011 hasta la actualidad (2022), sobre el uso de Algoritmos Genéticos (AG) en la calibración de modelos de micro simulación vehicular. La calibración no es más que el proceso de optimización de modelos bajo la comparación de parámetros observados y reales. Se seleccionó a los AG debido a su gran robustez y capacidad de trabajo con grandes cantidades de datos. Se seleccionaron un total de 19 artículos de fuentes de investigación reconocidas como: IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Springer Link y Scopus, respetando todos los criterios de selección y filtrado para únicamente trabajar con aquellos que aporten una actualización adecuada del tema. Los resultados muestran que gracias a la actualización de este tema se pudo constatar que el uso de los AG en la calibración de modelos de micro simulación vehicular tiene el potencial para mejorar y acelerar el proceso de calibración, lo cual ayudara a investigaciones y futuras publicaciones.This paper proposes a state-of-the-art review from 2011 to the present (2022) on the use of genetic algorithms (GA) to calibrate vehicle microsimulation models. Calibration is nothing more than the optimization process of models under comparing experimental and real parameters. Genetic algorithms (GA) were selected because of their excellent robustness and ability to work with large amounts of data. A total of 19 articles were selected from recognized research sources such as IEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, and Scopus, respecting all the selection and filtering criteria to work only with those that provide an adequate update of the topic. The results show that thanks to the update on this topic, it was possible to verify that the use of GA (Genetic Algorithms) in the calibration of vehicle microsimulation models can improve and accelerate the calibration process, which will help future research and publications

Phase 3 transmodeler settings and parameters : Carolina Crossroads I-20/I-26/I-126 corridor improvements Lexington and Richland Counties, South Carolina

The analysis of modifications to the Modified selected Alternative (MSA) will be based on the TransModeler network for the MSA and the associated Project and Scenario files. The primary analysis will make use of the 2040 morning and afternoon peak hour scenarios, but information will be provided should interim year analyses, such as for a ‘year of failure analysis’, of the MSA is necessary for the 2020, 2030, and 2035 scenarios

Case Studies to Develop a Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Analysis Framework Using Microsimulation

693JJ621C000017There are approximately 126,700 highway-rail at-grade crossings in the U.S. A portion of those involve high-volume public streets where crossing events result in measurable traffic backups and delays to the extent that mitigation efforts are needed. Conventional traffic analysis methods such as those in the Highway Capacity Manual are limited in their ability to quantify the impacts of traffic interruptions due to a train crossing. Microscopic traffic simulation methods are capable of analyzing these events and simulation software has been a part of the practitioner\u2019s toolbox now for 30 years. However, there has been no technical guidance nor consistency on how these tools should be applied to evaluate crossing events. Using microscopic simulation, researchers performed two case studies from which a framework has been developed that can be used by practitioners and decision makers for performing traffic operations analyses of at-grade crossings. The framework offers guidance for a consistent approach to the development and application of such models