VISSIM
Encyclopedia
VISSIM is a microscopic multi-modal traffic flow simulation software. It is developed by PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG in Karlsruhe
, Germany
. The name is derived from “Verkehr In Städten - SIMulationsmodell” (German for “Traffic in cities - simulation model”). VISSIM was started in 1992 and is today a global market leader.
”, sometimes called microsimulation
, means that each entity (car, train, person) of reality that is to be simulated is simulated individually, i.e. it is represented by a corresponding entity in the simulation, thereby considering all relevant properties. The same holds for the interactions between the entities. The opposite would be a “macroscopic simulation”, in which the description of reality is shifted from individuals to “averaged” variables like flow
and density
. The corresponding product from the same manufacturer is called VISUM.
(transport engineering
, transportation planning
, signal timing
), public transport
, urban planning
over fire protection
(evacuation simulation) to 3d visualization (computer animation
, architectural animation
) for illustrative purpose and communication to the general public.
The model underlying pedestrian dynamics is the Social Force Model
by Dirk Helbing
et al. from 1995.
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The name is derived from “Verkehr In Städten - SIMulationsmodell” (German for “Traffic in cities - simulation model”). VISSIM was started in 1992 and is today a global market leader.
Microscopic simulation
“Microscopic simulationSimulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
”, sometimes called microsimulation
Microsimulation
-Introduction:Microsimulation is a category of computerized analytical tools that perform highly detailed analysis of activities such as highway traffic flowing through an intersection, financial transactions, or pathogens spreading disease through a population...
, means that each entity (car, train, person) of reality that is to be simulated is simulated individually, i.e. it is represented by a corresponding entity in the simulation, thereby considering all relevant properties. The same holds for the interactions between the entities. The opposite would be a “macroscopic simulation”, in which the description of reality is shifted from individuals to “averaged” variables like flow
Traffic flow
Traffic flow, in mathematics and civil engineering, is the study of interactions between vehicles, drivers, and infrastructure , with the aim of understanding and developing an optimal road network with efficient movement of traffic and minimal traffic congestion problems.-History:Attempts to...
and density
Density
The mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
. The corresponding product from the same manufacturer is called VISUM.
Multi-modality
“Multi-modal simulation” describes the ability to simulate more than one type of traffic. All these types can interact mutually. In VISSIM the following types of traffic can be simulated- VehicleVehicleA vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s (cars, busses, and trucks) - Public transportPublic transportPublic transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
(trams, busses) - Cyclists
- PedestrianPedestrianA pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
s - Rickshaws
Scope of application
The scope of application ranges from various issues of traffic engineeringTraffic engineering (transportation)
For the engineering of communications and computer networks, see Teletraffic engineering.Traffic engineering is a branch of civil engineering that uses engineering techniques to achieve the safe and efficient movement of people and goods on roadways...
(transport engineering
Transport engineering
Transportation engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally...
, transportation planning
Transportation planning
Transportation planning is a field involved with the evaluation, assessment, design and siting of transportation facilities .-Models and Sustainability :...
, signal timing
Signal timing
Signal timing is the technique which traffic engineers use to determine who has the right-of-way at an intersection. Signal timing involves deciding how much green time the traffic lights shall provide at an intersection approach, how long the pedestrian WALK signal should be, and many numerous...
), public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
, urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
over fire protection
Fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as well as the research and development, production, testing and application of...
(evacuation simulation) to 3d visualization (computer animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
, architectural animation
Architectural animation
Architectural Animation is a short architectural movie created on a computer. A computer-generated building is created along with landscaping and sometimes moving people and vehicles. Unlike an architectural rendering, which is a single image from a single point of view, an architectural animation...
) for illustrative purpose and communication to the general public.
Scientific foundations
The basic traffic model ruling the movement of vehicles was developed by Rainer Wiedemann in 1974 at Karlsruhe University. It is a car-following model that considers physical and psychological aspects of the drivers.The model underlying pedestrian dynamics is the Social Force Model
Social Force Model
A social force model is a microscopic, continuous time, continuous space, phenomenological computer simulation model of the movement of pedestrians....
by Dirk Helbing
Dirk Helbing
Dirk Helbing is a physicist, and professor of sociology, in particular for modelling and simulation.- Biography :Dirk Helbing studied physics and mathematics at the University of Göttingen. He completed his doctoral thesis at Stuttgart University, on modeling social processes by means of...
et al. from 1995.
Scientific award
PTV AG has founded a bi-annual scientific award for scientific work related to VISSIM and other PTV products. Participation is open for any researcher.Literature
- R. Wiedemann, Simulation des Straßenverkehrsflusses. Schriftenreihe des IfV, 8, 1974. Institut für Verkehrswesen. Universität Karlsruhe. (In German language).
- R. Wiedemann, Modelling of RTI-Elements on multi-lane roads. In: Advanced Telematics in Road Transport edited by the Commission of the European Community, DG XIII, Brussels, 1991.
- M. Fellendorf, VISSIM: A microscopic simulation tool to evaluate actuated signal control including bus priority. 64th ITE Annual Meeting, 1994. PDF
- D. Helbing and P. Molnar, Social force model for pedestrian dynamics. Phys. Rev. E, 51:4282–4286, 1995.
- L. Bloomberg and J. Dale, Comparison of VISSIM and CORSIM Traffic Simulation Models on a Congested Network. Transportation Research Record 1727:52-60, 2000. PDF
- D. Helbing, I. Farkas, and T. Vicsek, Simulating dynamical features of escape panic. Nature, 407:487–490, 2000.
- M. Fellendorf and P. Vortisch, Validation of the microscopic traffic flow model VISSIM in different real-world situations. Transportation Research Board, 2001. PDF
- D. Helbing, I.J. Farkas, P. Molnar, and T. Vicsek, Simulation of Pedestrian Crowds in Normal and Evacuation Situations. In Schreckenberg and Sharma editors. Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics, Duisburg, 2002. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
- B.B. Park and J.D. Schneeberger, Microscopic Simulation Model Calibration and Validation: Case Study of VISSIM Simulation Model for a Coordinated Actuated Signal System. Transportation Research Record 1856:185-192, 2003. PDF
- T. Werner and D. Helbing, The Social Force Pedestrian Model Applied to Real Life Scenarios. In E. Galea (editor) Pedestrian and Evacuation Dynamics: 2nd International Conference, Old Royal Naval College, University of Greenwich, London, 2003. CMS Press.
- G. Gomes, A. May, and R. Horowitz, Congested Freeway Microsimulation Model Using VISSIM. Transportation Research Record 1876:71-81, 2004. PDF
- R. Jagannathan and J.G. Bared, Design and Operational Performance of Crossover Displaced Left-TurnContinuous flow intersectionContinuous flow intersection , also called a crossover displaced left-turn , is an at-grade intersection that moves the turning vehicles, conflicting with the through-movements , out of the main intersection...
Intersections Transportation Research Record 1881:1-10, 2004. - K.Y.K. Leung T.-S. Dao C.M. Clark, and J.P. Huissoon, Development of a microscopic traffic simulator for inter-vehicle communication application research. In Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference 1286-1291, 2006.
- M.M. Ishaque and R.B. Noland, Trade-offs between vehicular and pedestrian traffic using micro-simulation methods. Transport Policy 14(2):124-138, 2007.
- W. Burghout, J. Wahlstedt, Hybrid Traffic Simulation with Adaptive Signal Control Transportation Research Record 1999:191-197, 2007. PDF
- A. Johansson, D. Helbing, and P.K. Shukla, Specification of the Social Force Pedestrian Model by Evolutionary Adjustment to Video Tracking Data. Advances in Complex Systems 10(4):271–288, 2007.
External links
- Official manufacturer's homepage
- VISSIM on the web
- An animation example created from VISSIM results by Newlands & Company Inc..
- Animated VISSIM-Example of an Roundabout created by BrennerPlan GmbH.
- The “Traffic Library″ with VISSIM and VISUM related literature.