Overview

Projects occurred while Andy was seconded into the Model Planning Team (TfNSW).

Background

To address congestion within a key corridor in Sydney, transport planners engaged Ascent Analytics & Insights (AAI) for an expert review of AIMSUN microsimulation models. Originating from a third-party consultant, these models spanned base and future year scenarios, exploring a range of interventions from at-grade improvements to grade-separated solutions aimed at easing congestion bottlenecks.

Objectives

The primary objective was the thorough evaluation of the model and associated documentation to ensure readiness for a funding application. The goal was to validate the model's integrity and the efficacy of proposed congestion mitigation strategies.

Role

Andy's responsibility was the critical analysis of future year modelling, focusing on the examination of the report. With the base year model validation already assessed by another AAI analyst, Andy's review concentrated on scheme coding and model responsiveness to incremental demand and coding adjustments. This task involved in-depth analysis of the report, interpretation of the AIMSUN model, and coordination with both the original modelling consultants and the TfNSW transport planning client.

Collaborative Problem-Solving: Drawing advice from colleagues who were AIMSUN SMEs, Andy exemplified collaborative problem-solving skills. This involved coordinating efforts to address multifaceted modelling challenges, sharing insights to improve model fidelity, and integrating feedback from diverse technical perspectives.

Analytical Rigor: A critical part of his role was to apply analytical rigor in evaluating the model’s performance and accuracy. This included identifying and rectifying discrepancies, optimizing model parameters for enhanced realism, and validating the model against real-world traffic patterns.

Technical Precision: Andy demonstrated exceptional technical precision in understanding and manipulating complex microsimulation models. His ability to dissect and analyze the nuances of AIMSUN's operational logic, especially in dynamic traffic flow and intersection behavior, was pivotal.

Outcomes

The review concluded with only minor adjustments recommended, allowing the project to progress to the funding submission stage successfully. This outcome indicates the high quality of the initial modelling effort and the precision of the congestion alleviation proposals.

This case illustrates the critical role of detailed model review in transport planning and modelling, highlighting the necessity for technical expertise in evaluating and enhancing model-based solutions for urban traffic issues.