A road simulation model of the entire area surrounding Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris has been completed for Aéroports de Paris (AdP). French engineering consultancy, CDVIA, has created the model in a projected that was commissioned by AdP as part of its ‘Airport City’ concept. The hybrid model has been built using Aimsun traffic modeling software, which has over 3,000 licensed users worldwide and is developed, marketed and supported by TSS-Transport Simulation Systems. The model comprises a large-area mesoscopic model, dotted with pockets of simultaneous microscopic simulation wherever more detail is necessary. The model of the Charles de Gaulle Airport vicinity encomapasses over 150 miles (240km) of approach roads, 600 junctions, 64 bus lines, 100 bus stops and 190 ‘centroids’. Automated actions and origin/destination statements previously calibrated have helped to provide effective timing in the morning rush hour and evening traffic. AdP is also using the model results to evaluate solutions to non-recurring on-site traffic problems. However, the tool will be subject to audit. According to the project head, Dominique Derouard and technical facilitator, Zakarya Bouazzaoui, Aéroports de Paris intends to strengthen the tool with innovative devices to evaluate the potential gains from the implementation of an intelligent real-time traffic management system.
The Aimsun traffic modeling software allows users to model anything from a single bus lane to an entire region. With thousands of licensed users in government agencies, consultancies and universities worldwide, the software is widely regarded for the high speed of its simulations and for fusing travel demand modelling, static and dynamic traffic assignment with mesoscopic, microscopic and hybrid simulation, all within a single software application. Aimsun allows users to carry out all types of traffic operations assessments, including: assessment and optimization of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) schemes; feasibility studies for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes; impact analysis of infrastructure design such as highway corridor improvement/construction; environmental impact analysis; toll and road pricing; evaluation of travel demand management (TDM) strategies; traffic signal control plan optimization (Aimsun-TRANSYT link) and adaptive control evaluation; Safety analysis; evaluation of Variable Speed policies and other Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS); Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) analysis; and workzone management.
The Public Beta version of Aimsun 8.1 is now available and the Final Release version is due for launch in the near future. The new version will offer significant improvements to Aimsun 8.0 both at the modelling and platform levels, with new features available in travel demand modelling, macroscopic modelling, vehicle-based simulators, the microscopic simulator, the user interface and data analysis.
