VISSIM GUIDE

INTRODUCTORY TRAINING
VISSIM VISSIM is a microscopic, time step and behavior based simulation model developed to model urban traffic and public transit operations. The program can analyze traffic and transit operations under constraints such as lane configuration, traffic composition, traffic signals, transit stops, etc., thus making it a useful tool for the evaluation of various alternatives based on transportation engineering and planning measures of effectiveness. The traffic simulator in VISSIM is a microscopic traffic flow simulation model including the car following and lane change logic. VISSIM uses the psycho physical driver behavior model developed by !iedemann "#$%&'. The basic concept of this model is that the driver of a faster moving vehicle starts to decelerate as he reaches his individual perception threshold to a slower moving vehicle. Since he cannot e(actly determine the speed of that vehicle, his speed will fall below that vehicle)s speed until he starts to slightly accelerate again after reaching another perception threshold. This results in an iterative process of acceleration and deceleration.

Open VISSIM and create a new file

*or every transport network a separate VISSIM file is needed. To create a new network the following steps are to be followed. #. +pen the master plan of your study area as a background image

,uilding an accurate VISSIM model at least one scaled map that shows the real network. The image file of a digitized map ".-pg, .tiff, .bmp etc.' is to be imported as a background. This background can be displayed, moved and scaled in the VISSIM network window and is used to trace the VISSIM links and connectors. .. Scale the background and save a scaled background.

/recise scaling is necessary for an accurate network model. 0 large scale distance "1 #22 m 3 1 422 ft' is recommended to use. 4. 5raw links and connectors for streets and -unctions

The level of detail re6uired for replicating the modeled transport network infrastructure depends on the purpose of a VISSIM application. !hile a rough outline of the analyzed intersection is sufficient for testing traffic actuated signal logic, a more detailed model is re6uired for simulation analyses. 7ink8 The first step in coding a VISSIM network is to trace links. 9ach approach and section should be represented by one link. 0 link cannot

have multiple sections with a different number of lanes. :onnectors "rather than links' should be used to model turning movements. :onnectors8 In order to create a road network, links need to be

connected to other links. It is not sufficient to place one link on top of another link in order for vehicles to continue on the other link. Instead, a connector needs to be created to connect the two links. *urthermore connectors are used to model turnings of -unctions.

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Set Parameters f r t!e new file Simulation /arameters

Traffic regulations: Specifies the standard driving side "*or Ireland, Leftside-Traffic'. Simulation Resolution8 The number of times the vehicle)s position will be calculated within one simulated second "range # to #2' "more than 4 recommended'. Random Seed: This parameter initializes the random number

generator. Simulation runs with identical input files and random seeds generate identical results. ;sing a different random seed includes a stochastic variation of input flow arrival times.

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Speed profiles

Some parameters in VISSIM are defined as a distribution rather than a fi(ed value. Thus the stochastic nature of traffic situations is reflected realistically. Most of the distributions are handled similarly and it is possible to use any kind of empirical or stochastic data for definition. Stochastic distributions of desired speeds are defined for each vehicle type within each traffic composition. The minimum and ma(imum values for the desired speed distribution are to be entered along with two intermediate points are generally ade6uate to define an s shaped distribution. 4. Vehicle 0cceleration and 5eceleration *unctions

VISSIM does not use a single acceleration and deceleration value but uses functions to represent the differences in a driver)s behavior. 0cceleration and deceleration are functions of the current speed. These functions are predefined for each of the default vehicle types in VISSIM. They can be edited or new graphs can be created

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5well Time 5istribution "Stops < /arking 7ots'

The dwell time distribution is used by VISSIM for dwell times at parking lots, stop signs, toll counters or transit stops. 9ither a normal distribution or an empirical distribution can be provided for transit stops. =. Vehicle type characteristics

In addition to the default vehicle types ":ar, >?V, ,us, Tram, ,ike and /edestrian', new vehicle types can be created or e(isting types modified. 0 vehicle class represents a logical container for one or more previously defined vehicle types.

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:reate traffic compositions

0 traffic composition defines the vehicle mi( of each input flow to be defined for the VISSIM network. The relative percentage "proportion' of each vehicle type is to be given. %. 9nter traffic volumes at network endpoints and pedestrian

volumes at -unctions In VISSIM, time variable traffic volumes to enter the network can be defined. *or vehicle input definition, at least one traffic composition has to be defined. Traffic volumes are defined for each link and each time interval in vehicles per hour. !ithin one time interval vehicles enter the link based on a /oisson distribution.

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"ine T#nin$

f t!e VISSIM Netw r%

9nter routing decision points and associated routes

0 route is a fi(ed se6uence of links and connectors. 0 route starts from a routing decision point "red cross section' and e(tends up to at least one destination point "green cross section' or multiple destinations. 0 route can have any length from a turning movement at a single

-unction to a route that stretches throughout the entire VISSIM network. *or static routing decisions, vehicles from a start point "red' to any of the defined destinations "green' using a static percentage for each destination. .. 9nter speed changes Aeduced speed areas8 !hen modeling short sections of slow speed

characteristics "e.g. curves or bends', the use of reduced speed areas is advantageous over the use of desired speed decisions. In order for a reduced speed area to become effective vehicles need to pass its start position. 5esired Speed 5ecisions8 0 desired speed decision is to be placed

at a location where a permanent speed change should become effective. The typical application is the location of a speed sign in reality. 4. 9nter priority rules

/riority rules are to be applied for non signalized intersections, permissive left turns, right turns on red light and pedestrian crosswalks. The right of way for non signal protected conflicting movements is modeled with priority rules. This applies to all situations where vehicles on different links3connectors should recognize each other. The two main conditions to check at the conflict marker"s' are minimum headway "distance' and minimum gap time. C nflict areas are a new alternative to priority rules to define priority in intersections. They are the recommended solution in most cases

because they are more easily defined and the resulting vehicle behavior is more intelligent. 0 conflict area can be defined wherever two links3connectors in the VISSIM network overlap. *or each conflict area, the user can select which of the conflicting links has right of way "if any'. &. 9nter stop signs

Intersection approaches controlled by ST+/ signs are modeled in VISSIM as a combination of priority rule and ST+/ sign. 0 ST+/ sign forces vehicles to stop for at least one time step regardless of the presence of conflicting traffic while the priority rule deals with conflicting traffic, looking for minimum gap time and headway etc. ST+/ signs are re6uired to be installed for non signalized intersections and for right turns on red light.

Create Si$nal C ntr ls

Signalized intersections can be modeled in VISSIM either using the built in fi(ed time control or an optional e(ternal signal state generator. "+ur license in Trinity has a fi(ed time control.' In VISSIM every signal controller "S:' is represented by its individual S: number and signal phase. Signal indications are typically updated at the end of each simulation second. Signal control and signal groups are to be modeled from Signal :ontrol window. In *i(ed Time Signal :ontrol VISSIM starts a signal cycle at second # and ends with second :ycle time.

Set#p f r

#tp#t files and r#n sim#lati ns

travel time segments ;sing Travel Time Measurements mode, a section of the network has to be selected on which the travel time is to be measured. The output format can be configured according to the re6uirement of the user. delay segments ,ased on travel time sections VISSIM can generate delay data for networks. 0 delay segment is based on one or more travel time sections. 0ll vehicles that pass these travel time sections are captured by the delay segment. 0 delay time measurement determines compared to the ideal travel time "no other the mean time delay calculated vehicles, no signal control'

from all vehicles observed on a single or several link sections. 6ueue counters The 6ueue counter feature in VISSIM provides as output the average 6ueue length, ma(imum 6ueue length and the number of vehicle stops within the 6ueue. Bueues are counted from the location of the 6ueue counter on the link or connector upstream to the final vehicle that is in 6ueue condition. If the 6ueue backs up onto multiple different approaches the 6ueue counter will record information for all of them and report the longest as the ma(imum 6ueue length. data collection points

5ata collection offers the collection of data on single cross sections.

&UIC'START C(EC')IST #. +pen VISSIM and create a new file .. Set the simulation parameters 4. :reate3edit speed profiles &. :heck3edit vehicle type characteristics =. :reate traffic compositions @. +pen the master plan of your study area as a background image %. /lace and scale the background image and save background image file. C. 5raw links and connectors for roadways tracks and crosswalks $. 9nter traffic volumes at network endpoints and pedestrian volumes at -unctions #2. 9nter routing decision points and associated routes ##. 9nter speed changes #.. 9nter priority rules for non signalized intersections #4. 9nter stop signs for non signalized intersections #&. :reate Signal :ontrols with signal groups #=. 9nter signal heads in network #@. 9nter detectors for intersections controlled by traffic actuated signal control #%. 9nter stop signs for right turns on red #C. 9nter priority rules #$. :reate dwell time distributions and place transit stops in network .2. :reate transit lines .#. Setup for output files ... Aun the simulation