A pioneering model that combines macroscopic assignment and microsimulation subnetworks to help shape future transport and development within Medway.

Microsimulation was identified as being essential to underpin virtually all of Medway’s modelling requirements.  This is because microsimulation is required to capture the detailed local effects of schemes and to accurately ascertain scheme benefits.  Microsimulation is also the only option for many schemes that involve detailed traffic signal modelling, traffic management, emissions and pedestrians, as these can only be accurately modelled at a microscopic level.

A key issue with the microsimulation modelling is the interface with wide-area highway assignment models, which often provide cordoned demand for microsimulation models.  Wide area models are essential to enable the strategic effects of transport schemes to be assessed based on the findings of detailed modelling at a local level.

To resolve this issue, the Medway Aimsun Model combined macroscopic and microscopic simulation using the same network. In a world first, Fore recognised that if the whole network was coded at a level of detail suitable for microsimulation, then that detail could be interrogated to find the parameters required for macroscopic assignment, whilst achieving a high level of cost-consistency between the two models. This enabled a best-of-both-worlds model to be created that enabled both strategic and local effects to be efficiently modelled.

The model now contains eight microsimulation subnetworks in addition to the macroscopic model and has been used to support a number of high-profile projects including:

• Highway modelling to help secure £170M from the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF)
• Modelling of the Medway Local Plan proposals
• Modelling to support the Innovation Park Medway scheme
• Modelling of various development proposals

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