June 2008

Traffic Software News
Issue No. 46 | June 2008 | www.trlsoftware.co.uk
PCMOVA, SCOOT and VISSIM
©
The majority of readers will already be familiar with the
world famous adaptive urban traffic signal control system
SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) and
how its adaptive nature responds automatically to traffic
fluctuations, and MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised
Vehicle Actuation) which is now a very well established
To date more than 1,500 UK junctions have MOVA
installed with around 300 further junctions being rolled
out every 12 months. SCOOT is extensively used both
within the UK and overseas, with around 150 towns and
cities benefiting worldwide.
TRL has recently produced PCMOVA which allows MOVA
to be linked to either S-Paramics or VISSIM. With the
increasing use of microsimulation to model wider areas,
many models will include junctions that are MOVA
controlled. These models have proved unrealistic as they
could not factor MOVA installations within the model in
the past so PCMOVA was created to provide a solution.
Now with PCMOVA, the models can give realistic results,
allowing planners to carry out their task effectively.
strategy for the control of traffic light signals at isolated
junctions i.e. junctions that are uncoordinated with any
neighbouring signals. TRL Software is behind the design
and development of both products with Peek Traffic Ltd,
and Siemens Traffic Controls Ltd making up the other
parts of the collaboration.
With any errors occurring in the safe haven of
the desktop model, ungainly mistakes can be
saved from causing impact on street!
An important aspect of using PCMOVA is
the need to understand MOVA itself. Like
many aspects of traffic signal control, full
understanding of MOVA may be demanding
and is not something that can necessarily
be achieved within the timescales of most
normal assessment projects. With its detailed
knowledge of MOVA, TRL is able to provide help
with MOVA design and implementation issues,
and can provide validation of both MOVA and
the S-Paramics or VISSIM model.
Through TRL’s consultancy work we have
developed
the ability to link SCOOT to VISSIM. Any customers having
the requirement to compare MOVA (linked
or otherwise) with SCOOT for a particular network, or
even individual junctions, can call upon TRL for assistance.
Comparisons do not need to include
MOVA: SCOOT can also be compared to fixed
time or VA within VISSIM as well.
PCMOVA also provides the capability to allow engineers
and modellers alike to ‘try before you buy’. For complex
junctions and linked-MOVA situations, it is now possible
to see the potential benefits of using MOVA before
installation, thus providing evidence to justify the cost.
In simple cases this is not absolutely necessary as going
ahead and installing MOVA could cost less than carrying
out an assessment.
Junction operation and layout can be optimised within
the model, both to maximise the benefits of fitting
MOVA, and with the additional opportunity to reduce the
amount of time spent during on-street validation, can
potentially reduce any safety risk at the road side.
To be able to model MOVA or SCOOT within a
microsimulation model, detailed knowledge is required
not only of how to set up the control strategies in the first
place, but also what peculiarities need to be taken into
account when modelling in microsimulations, as opposed
to implementing on street. Not only has TRL developed
expertise in MOVA and SCOOT, but also in integrating this
modelling within VISSIM and S-Paramics on real world
projects, and we are now in a position to provide this
service to others.
If you are interested in finding out more about how we can
help you, please contact Mark Crabtree.
Mark Crabtree
mcrabtree@trl.co.uk
© 2008 PTV AG, Karlsruhe.
Creating the future of transport
HDM4
In 1996, the World Road Association
(PIARC) assumed the responsibility for
the management of the HDM project,
following on from the World Bank.
Following HDM-4 Version 1 a survey of HDM technology
users’ needs and an extensive review of the technical
models were undertaken. The identified areas for
improvements were included in the latest release,
HDM-4 Version 2.
Major improvements include:
HDMGLOBAL companies have now been awarded a
five year concession by PIARC for the future management
of HDM-4. The consortium partners are the Highway
Management Research Group a UK based association of
TRL, the University of Birmingham, Atkins and Scott
Wilson (UK), ARRB (Australia), ENPC and Scetauroute
(France), and ICH (Chile).
The Highway Development and Management (HDM-4)
system was first released in 2000, following an extensive
international study of highway development and
management tools. The study extended the scope
of HDM-III and resulted in the development of an
advanced road investment analysis tool with broad-based
applicability in developing and developed countries. More
than 1500 licenses of HDM-4 have been sold worldwide.
Improved Analysis Models
Sensitivity Analysis
Budget Scenario Analysis
Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA)
Asset Valuation
- Improved Technical Modes
- Improved Connectivity
- Improved Data Handling & Organisation
- Improved Usability & Configuration
The scope of HDM-4 Version 2 has been broadened
considerably beyond traditional project appraisal to
provide an internationally recognised tool for the analysis
of road management and investment alternatives.
It is used by government road administrations and
agencies, transportation consultants, and education and
transportation research institutions worldwide. HDM4 is
now an internationally recognised software package which
provides a harmonized approach to road management
with adaptable and user-friendly analysis tools, for
investigating road investment choices.
The Strategy Analysis module is used to
prepare medium to long term planning
estimates of funding needs for road
network development and maintenance.
Estimates of the medium to long term
budget requirements for the entire
road network together with forecasts
of pavement performance and
road user effects can be obtained.
The impact of different Budget
Scenarios can be estimated
together with the Asset Value of
the network.
The Programme Analysis module is
used to prepare rolling work
programmes in which candidate road sections are
identified and assigned maintenance or improvement
options. HDM-4 calculates the economic benefits and
expenditure requirements of each option. A schedule
of optimum pavement maintenance and/or road
improvement projects which can be carried out within
specified budget constraints are identified.
HDM-4 Version 2 provides a powerful system for road
management, programming road works, estimating
funding requirements, allocating budgets, predicting road
network performance, project appraisal and examining
the impact of policies.
The Project Analysis module can be used to estimate
the economic or engineering viability of road investment
projects by performing lifecycle analysis of pavement
performance, maintenance and/or improvement effects
together with estimates of road user costs. The main
outputs include:
• Annual predictions of pavement performance
• Pavement maintenance and road improvement effects
• Road user costs and benefits
• Estimates of environmental effects
• Standard economic indicators such as NPV and EIRR
A Sensitivity Analysis module allows the user to
investigate the impact of variations in key parameters
on the analysis results. Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA)
provides a means of comparing projects using criteria that
cannot easily be assigned an economic cost. For example,
environmental, social or political impacts.
HDM-4 can be used to examine road sector policy studies
including:
• Funding policies for competing needs, e.g. feeder
versus main roads
• Impacts of road transport policy changes on energy
consumption
• Impact of axle load limits
• Pavement maintenance and rehabilitation standards
Default data and calibration coefficients can be user
defined for any country or region. This allows HDM-4 to
be configured to suit the customers’ local conditions and
therefore can be applied throughout the world.
By exchanging data with a Pavement Management
Systems (PMS) or other databases, HDM-4 can utilize
existing data to perform an analysis. The output reports
can be adapted to individual requirements thereby
integrating HDM-4 into an existing road management
framework.
If you would like more information, please contact
Gavin Jackman
gjackman@trl.co.uk
Greg Morosiuk
gmorosiuk@trl.co.uk
Oscady Pro in action
OSCADY PRO has recently been used in Italy to dramatically
improve the performance of a signalised intersection. Aldo
Conti, of Regolazione Controllo Traffico, used OSCADY
PRO in drive-on-the-right mode to analyse a busy vehicleactuated four-arm junction in Cantù, near Milan.
Aldo writes: “Today we have
reprogrammed a junction with
the results of OSCADY PRO. I have
just come back from a visit of the
junction during the peak of traffic
and it is behaving very well. The
difference is amazing. The junction
is actuated and until this morning it
was running a cycle of 184 seconds
(maximum green). Now the cycle
is 105 and it is doing well. I could
already see one person amazed by
the fact that the intersection is not
jammed. The expectation here was
that OSCADY PRO would not have
produced timings very different
from the current ones. I would say
that 105 seconds instead of 184 is
a big difference. And it can still be
improved, as at the moment I am
considering only the heaviest traffic
I measured.”
Thanks to the reduction in queues
and delays at the junction, Aldo
has estimated that they have saved
the equivalent of one car waiting
at the traffic light for 13 hours a
day with the engine running, which
has saved about 62 kg of CO2 per
day. Aldo and his colleagues are still
experimenting with further options
at this and other intersections and we
hope to publish further details of his
experience with OSCADY PRO soon.
TRL is very interested to hear from
other partners with similar findings to
feature in future editions of TSN and
use as case studies.
You can now purchase both OSCADY
PRO and OSCADY Classic together
via our new OSCADY + package.
Please see our website or contact the
Software Bureau for more details.
Graham Burtenshaw gburtenshaw@trl.co.uk
Alistair Maxwell
amaxwell@trl.co.uk
Who’s Who
Philip Knight joined the
Traffic Group in March 2008
having had over 2 years
experience as a Graduate
Traffic Control Engineer with
Transport for London (TfL) and has
knowledge of all aspects of traffic signal
installations. Prior to joining TfL, Philip
gained a 2:1 in Physical Geography from
the University of Sussex. Keen on sports
including cycling, running and tennis, he
is also a car and motorsport enthusiast
and has taken part in the Scumball Rally
- a five day long charity event.
Paul Emmerson has worked
within in the transport
modelling field at TRL since
1978. His work has included
many aspects of modelling
related to traffic appraisal, including
traffic generation, distribution,
assignment and evaluation. He is
experienced in the handling of a wide
variety of travel demand data and in
travel demand modelling, including
the analysis of multi-year data-sets and
various forecasting techniques. He
has been providing guidance to UK
Department of Transport on various
aspects of the modelling and appraisal
process, including advice on the
modelling of travel times using different
types of models including microsimulation models; assessing the impact
of road schemes on travel behaviour;
providing advice on modelling variable
demand responses to highway schemes,
and for the Highways Agency, providing
advice on the impact of such techniques
on development control.
An expert adviser to the software
development team on strategic
transport modelling issues, Paul’s
specialisations include transport
planning methodology, traffic
forecasting and land-use/transport
interaction. Paul has been responsible
for numerous publications, both as sole
and joint author.
If you would like more information on any of
the issues raised in this issue please contact us.
email: softwarebureau@trl.co.uk or visit us
at web: www.trlsoftware.co.uk
User Groups, Workshops & Training 2008
User Group Meetings are held annually for ARCADY,
PICADY, OSCADY and TRANSYT users. (Normally
these are run over two days, with one day
dedicated to TRANSYT and the other to ARCADY,
PICADY and OSCADY.) They provide an opportunity
for users of the programs to raise a variety of issues,
and always result in interesting and sometimes lively
discussions! As well as presentations from TRL on
current and future developments, we encourage
talks or presentations from users.
UPGRADE TO TRANSYT 13
17th July 2008
VENUE: The Grange Hotel, Charles Square, Bracknell
COST: £275 (Maintenance Holder, £250)
TRANSYT Workshop
8th-9th October 2008
VENUE TRL, Crowthorne House
COST: £595 (Maintenance Holder, £545)
Engineer’s MOVA Workshop
4th-5th November 2008
VENUE TRL, Crowthorne House
COST: £595 (Maintenance Holder, £545)
OSCADY PRO Training
13th Nov 2008
VENUE TRL, Crowthorne House
COST: £495 (Maintenance Holder, £450)
UPGRADE TO TRANSYT 13
25th June 2008
VENUE: Edinburgh
COST: £275 (Maintenance Holder, £250)
ARCADY and PICADY Workshop
1st-2nd October 2008
VENUE TRL, Crowthorne House
COST: £595 (Maintenance Holder, £545)
SafeNET 2 Training
16th October 2008
VENUE TRL, Crowthorne House
COST: £495 (Maintenance Holder, £450)
Training courses can be specially tailored for STM,
PERS and MAAP users and conducted either at
their place of work, whether in UK or elsewhere, or
at TRL (Crowthorne House, Wokingham) on dates
convenient for users. Please use the web link below
for details of any forthcoming events.
All prices exclude VAT. All bookings are subject to
places being available. Courses priced in Euros will
be subject to exchange rate fluctuation. TRL reserve
the right to cancel courses if there is insufficient
demand.
Conference Announcements
MOVA User Group
The next MOVA user group will be held at
Nottingham University Jubilee Campus on the 16th
November 2008. For more details, please check the
TRL Software web site where you will be directed to
the booking form.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE PROGRAM VERSIONS
Junction Design
ARCADY
OSCADY Classic
OSCADY PRO
PICADY
Junction Plus
OSCADY +
Traffic and Network
CONTRAM
MOVA
MOVA SETUP
MOVA COMM
MTV
PCMOVA
SCOOT
SISTM
v6.0
AD/4
v5.0
AB/2
v1.2
v5.0
AC/3
All current versions
Current versions
v8.3a3
v5.0
v6.0
v6.02
v2.1
v1.1.7
vMC3
v6.0.008
TRANSYT 12
v12.1
TRANSYT 13
v13.0.1
Strategic Modelling
STM
v4.4.5
Environment & Security
CarShare Online
N/A
PERS
v2.13
Safety
MAAP
v4.3.5
SafeNET
v2.04
Economic Appraisal
COBA
11 R7
QUADRO
v4.0 R6
Visualisation
UC / Win Road
N/A
TRL Software Bureau
Crowthorne House, Nine Mile Ride,
Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3GA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1344 770758
Fax: +44 (0)1344 770864
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