Large-scale simulation tools for transportation planning and traffic operations management

Traffic simulation tools are becoming increasingly popular for evaluating transportation planning and traffic operations management strategies. Planners and managers may choose from a range of available simulation tools that differ in the accuracy (i.e. fidelity) of their representation of real-world demand and supply phenomena. These tools can generally be classified as microscopic, mesoscopic or macroscopic, representing a decreasing order in level of detail and realism. In this paper, we showcase TransModeler, a simulation tool that can seamlessly handle all three fidelity levels simultaneously, on the same network. This hybrid simulation approach (released first in TransModeler in 2006 and subsequently used extensively by consultants) allows agencies to simulate very large urban networks while choosing the links, segments or corridors that require a detailed, microscopic focus. We present some methodological concepts behind Trans-Modeler, its dynamic equilibrium capabilities, and illustrative case studies on real-world networks.