Microsimulation: An Important Tool in the Designers Armory

Transport and highway schemes are often implemented with high expectations based on the predictions of traffic modeling. This article will discuss that traffic modeling is often the trusted mechanism to help aid in the delivery of transport and highway schemes but sometimes crucial factors, such as vehicle behavior, are not adequately considered in some strategic approaches. The article considers the role of microsimulation modeling and how it can play an important part in the design process to help overcome such issues. In the United Kingdom (UK), the North Wakefield Gateway scheme has used microsimulation with good results to inform the scheme design, quantify the likely benefits and assist with public consultation. Microsimulation offers benefits over strategic modeling such as the effects of interactions between adjacent junctions and queues; traffic demand; impact of different signal control methods; and bus lanes and stops.