SCATSIM/VISSIM interface as a platform for performance evaluation of signalised intersections

The purpose of the paper is to increase awareness of ATC systems, aid traffic engineers in making better assumptions about intersection principal parameters and enhance the Level of Service interpretation. The performance of signalised intersections is often being assessed by traffic engineers using a number of different tools available ranging from the deterministic, mesoscopic to microsimulation models. The conventional performance assessment often ignores or does not take sufficiently into account the effect an Area Traffic Control (ATC) system like SCATS has on operation of signalised intersections. With the latest advent of interfacing microsimulation with SCATS it is now possible to do a simultaneous measurement on a cycle by cycle basis of delay, queue length, number of stops, volume and cycle time length at all signalised intersections in the model. By Interpreting graphs produced from high resolution parameter measurement the paper clarifies the relationship between signalised sites and quantifies the effect linked intersections have on one another in both off-peak and congested conditions. Examples of this relationship range from imposing the higher then optimal cycle time at non-critical intersections to queue spill-overs onto upstream sites. The paper also gives examples on how this method can successfully be used for evaluation of unconventional phasing schemes like Rest-on-Red. Case studies presented here demonstrate that this method can successfully capture the effects of an ATC system on intersection performance in all its complexity and detail. After doing half a dozen traffic studies using SCATSIM/VISSIM interface the findings are shared in this paper.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Andjic, Z
  • Jacoby, G
• Conference:
  • ARRB Conference, 25th, 2012, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• Publication Date: 2012-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: The Australian Low Carbon Transport Forum: identifying the greenhouse gas abatement potential of the Australian transport sector

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway traffic control; Microsimulation; Signalization; Signalized intersections; Simulation; Traffic control
• ATRI Terms: Area traffic control; Microsimulation; Signalized intersection; Traffic management
• ITRD Terms: 455: Junction
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01454731
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 27 2012 3:52PM