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Aimsun 8 New Features
Aimsun 8 New Features
October 2013
2005-2013 TSS - Transport Simulation Systems
Contents
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
Copyright
Trademark
AIMSUN 8 HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Trip Generation
Generation/Attraction Data Set Attribute
Generation/Attraction Data Set
Generation/Attraction Area
Generation/Attraction Scenario and Experiment
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Four-step Model
Four-step Model Scenario and Experiment
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3.
PLATFORM IMPROVEMENTS
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Traffic Profile
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Matrix operations
Redistribute Operation
Correction Operation
Apply Traffic Profiles Operation
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Graphical Outputs
Diagram View Style
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3D Improvements
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Print layout
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4.
PROGRAMMING IMPROVEMENTS
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Microsimulator API
Read Pre-emption parameters
Time stopped in a Public Transport Stop
Read and set green meterings by lane parameters
Read Node Statistics
Functions relative to pedestrians
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Scripting
New Python version
Pre-Run and Post-Run Scripts in Experiments
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Draft
Copyright
Trademark
Draft
Aimsun 8 highlights
Four-step Model for Demand Modelling
Aimsun 8 introduces three main features that, together with previously existing features,
complete the Four-step model that supports the Demand Modelling process at the
macroscopic level:
Trip Generation
Trip Distribution + Modal Split
Public Transport Assignment
Each one of these features has its own Scenario and Experiment.
A new global macroscopic Scenario, called Four-step Model Scenario, is available so that the
user can define the whole process in an Experiment through steps in a work flow diagram.
Aimsun Expert edition and Aimsun Professional for Travel Demand Modelling edition will grant
access to all the Four-step model features.
Print layouts
As a help when creating the final report for a project, from 8.0.1 onward, print layouts can
be defined prior to printing allowing to compose a graphic scene on a page, including
elements such as views of the network, legends, text, Time Series graphs or images.
Draft
Trip Generation
The Trip Generation/Attraction calculation is the first step in the Demand Modelling process.
It consists in calculating the total number of trips generated and attracted by each zone
(represented by a centroid in Aimsun). Results will be Generation/Attraction vectors.
Generation/Attraction Area
Zones are classified by the type of Generation/Attraction Area. All zones of the same Area
Type share the same Generation/Attraction factors for the process execution.
Distribution Area
Zones are classified into Distribution Area types and a Distribution + Modal Split function is
paired with each Distribution Area.
Parking Area
Parking restrictions and costs are given for each area, and each zone belongs to a different
Parking Area.
Distribution Scenario
The Distribution + Modal Split process is managed by a Scenario where the user chooses the
Time Period, the G/A vectors (which determine the Transportation Modes used), their
corresponding Skim matrices (containing O/D costs) and the rest of parameters.
PT cost functions
In a PT Trip, there are several costs to account for. A pedestrian will leave the centroid
through a connector, then wait at the PT Stop, then enter a PT vehicle paying a fare, then
spend some time in-vehicle, then maybe make a transfer, walk, wait again, etc. All these
steps have a cost and Aimsun 8 has newly defined functions to model them:
PT Waiting Time function (time at the stop)
PT Boarding function (fare)
PT Delay function (in-vehicle time)
PT Transfer function (transfer penalty)
editable, and contain the cost for the in-vehicle time in that segment, that is, a PT Delay
function must be selected for each PT Section. Also, a new layer to which the PT Sections will
belong, called PT Network, will be automatically created. This layer must be active in order
to see the PT Lines and PT Assignment graphical results.
PT Assignment Scenario
The PT Assignment is managed by its own Scenario, which contains the algorithm parameters.
Four-step Model
Four-step Model Scenario and Experiment
A Four-step Model Experiment, contained in a Four-step Model Scenario, can be used to
manage the whole Four-step Model process. The user can define the input data and which
experiments to execute. Each box in the diagram is related with an input or a process
(experiment) to be executed. The user can choose to execute the processes up to a certain
point in the diagram, or a single box (provided all the previous necessary steps have been
already executed).
Time Period
A new object is available in Project->New->Demand Data->Time Period.
Draft
Draft
All-or-Nothing Assignment: this method looks for the shortest paths in free flow and
returns free flow costs and paths.
Incremental Assignment: in this kind of assignment, it is the user who fixes the % of
trips that will be loaded to the new calculated shortest paths and discharged from the
rest of the previous paths at each iteration.
MSA Assignment: this method is similar to Frank & Wolfe except that the step lambda
is not optimised but fixed to 1/n where n is the iteration number.
Stochastic Assignment: this method is recommended for bicycle assignment. It takes
into account the flows obtained in another macro experiment, calculates the kshortest paths and assigns demand to them based on a utility function.
Supernodes
In order to represent complex junctions and roundabouts in a more realistic way, the concept
of Supernodes has been introduced. This new object represents one or more nodes and allows
to define Turn Penalty Functions and Junction Delay Functions for each movement of the
Supernode. After a Macro Assignment the statistics of each movement of a Supernode can be
consulted and represented in the same way as for a Turn.
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3. Platform improvements
Traffic Profile
A new object is available in Project->New->Demand Data->Traffic Profile. It contains the
percentages for each interval during a time period. This information will be used by the Apply
Traffic Profiles operation to generate a set of O/D Matrices from a global matrix.
Matrix operations
Several new matrix operations are now available:
Redistribute
Correction
Apply Traffic Profiles
Redistribute Operation
An O/D matrix has a specific cost distribution based on any of its corresponding skim matrices
(for example, the O/D distances matrix). After an adjustment, this distribution might have
been distorted, and it can be recovered by executing a Redistribute operation that will need
the following as input: the matrix to be redistributed; its current corresponding skim matrix;
the original demand matrix; the original skim matrix (these last two giving the cost
distribution that you want to recover).
Correction Operation
This operation will apply the same (multiplicative) changes to the current matrix that were
made from an original matrix to a manipulated matrix (for example, an adjusted matrix) up
to a maximum correction factor.
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Graphical Outputs
Diagram View Style
A new View Style is available for Diagrams (with several options to choose from: Circles, Pie,
Histogram or Stacked Histogram). It can be used, for example, to visualise and compare the
Generation/Attraction values with a histogram for each centroid.
3D Improvements
The 3D visualization has been improved with atmospheric effects such as rain or snow. Traffic
lights can now be located before or after the junction. Pedestrian crossings are drawn.
Furthermore, several kinds of additional file formats can now be imported. These include
importing Collada files and from Google Warehouse among others.
Print layout
From 8.0.1 onward, print Layouts can be defined prior to printing allowing you to compose a
graphic scene on a page, including elements such as views of the network, legends, text,
Time Series graphs or images. You can then print the Print Layout, or export it to a PDF or an
image.
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4. Programming improvements
Microsimulator API
Read Pre-emption parameters
New functions to read the pre-emption defined for a simulation have been added to the
Microsimulator API.
Scripting
New Python version
The scripting in Aimsun 8 requires a newer version of Python, Python 2.7.4.
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