TransModeler

Hi all,

TransModeler is a network simulation and operation tool equipped with GIS interface. TransModeler's a very impressive software package overall and it covers almost everything. I try to make a summary based on my understanding:

1. It can simulate a netork with different degrees of fidelity: microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic:

a. Microscopic model captures the movements of each individual vehicle using kinematics (like the one in Paramics) ;

b. Mesocopic model uses speed-density relationship to describe the traffic state (like DynaSmart which we discussed before);

c. Marcoscopic model adopts the volume-delay relationship (like the one in the so-called 'static' model).


2. TransModel can be used for:

a. Intersection control (including pretimed, actuated, and actuated coordination. For the actuated controller, I believe that they are using a 'microcopic' appraoch (similar to Paramics) with detectors defined on the network);

b. Freeway traffic management (the design and simulation of HOV and HOT lane. TransModeler can also simualte the 'lane-changing effect);

c. Traffic demand analysis (O-D estimation, static and dynamic traffic assignments. The traffic assignments can be calculated according to different principles: shortest path assignment, stochastic shortest path assignment; user equilibrium assignment, stochastic user equilibrium assignment based on multinomial logic discrete choice model);

d. Transit simulation.


3. The software, of course, is equipped with easy-to-use GUI.

I wish the information will be useful to our future discussion and development.