Selection of a simulation software to model a small signalized system of a multilane arterial in the southeastern US

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dc.contributorLindly, Jay K.
dc.contributorJones, Steven L.
dc.contributorFonseca, Daniel J.
dc.contributorTurner, Daniel S.
dc.contributor.advisorTurner, Daniel S.
dc.contributor.authorTedla, Elsa Gebru
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-28T22:20:29Z
dc.date.available2017-02-28T22:20:29Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractEmployment of traffic simulation tools has become a popular practice in traffic operations analyses as the transportation system has become more complex and more frequently congested. Most of the commercially available traffic simulation models work best for free-flow or unsaturated conditions. Depending on the type of traffic condition and type of analysis, the performance of simulation models varies and there is little information available to help the analyst to select the most appropriate and accurate model for a given analysis. To address this need, two traffic simulation tools, SimTraffic and AIMSUN, were evaluated and compared for a congested arterial segment. Both simulation packages are designed to model almost any combination of surface street and freeway facilities. In this paper, an arterial segment in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (McFarland Boulevard) between 13th street and 31st street was coded and simulated for AM, Mid day, and PM peak periods. The network was simulated 10 times for each peak period using both simulation models, and average values were taken for comparison. Then the network was evaluated using output measures of effectiveness (MOE) such as Vehicle Hours Travel (VHT), Vehicle Miles Travel (VMT), average speed, and flow rate at the network level, along with delay, travel time, and average speed at the arterial level, and delay and traffic volume at a link level. Using statistical methods and graphical plots for comparison, each simulation model was evaluated for its capability to replicate existing field conditions using default and calibrated traffic parameters. In addition to accuracy, the models were also compared with respect to ease of coding, and quality/usefulness of output. This report documents relevant results and calibration processes used for employing the models in future studies and practices regarding congested arterials.en_US
dc.format.extent128 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0000032
dc.identifier.otherTedla_alatus_0004M_10053
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/539
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectCivil engineering
dc.subjectTransportation
dc.subjectUrban and Regional Planning
dc.titleSelection of a simulation software to model a small signalized system of a multilane arterial in the southeastern USen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
etdms.degree.disciplineCivil, Construction & Environmental Engineering
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.levelmaster's
etdms.degree.nameM.S.

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