Microsimulation Modelling in Vissim for Longterm Improvement of Cement Junction, Nattakom

Microsimulation Modelling in Vissim for Longterm Improvement of Cement Junction, Nattakom

1Karthik Prasad, 2Jacob George, 3Rohith M K, 4Vilbin Varghese

1, 2, 3 UG Students, 4Assistant Professor

Department of Civil Engineering, Mangalam College of Engineering,Kerala, India

Abstract: – Travel efficiency and traffic safety of nonsignalized intersections are two main objectives considered in traffic management and control. Traffic analysis at nonsignalized intersections has always been a difficult process to carry out with the ever- increasing volume of vehicles. Cement junction is a three-legged intersection situated at Kottayam district in Kerala. The ineffective signalling and lack of space leads to long queues in the intersection and improper positioning of bus bays in the influence zone of the junction cause heavy traffic congestion during peak hours. The focus of the study is to investigate the current situation and to developing a signalized intersection model of intersections to reduce the traffic congestion and smooth movement of traffic flow. Seeking appropriate control mechanisms with the help of traffic simulation software is an effective way to solve the problem. By using VISSIM micro simulation software we created the model and ran simulations with signals fitted to model and compared the queue length and suggest that model for long-term solution for the trip makers at Cement junction.

Keywords: VISSIM, Intersection, Traffic simulation, Queue Length

1. INTRODUCTION

   The increasing traffic congestion has become a major problem in many of the developing metropolitan areas across the globe. Peak hour traffic congestion has become something everyone has to face due to the way in which the current society operates. The timings which are in place in different parts of the world has led to the inevitable overloading of the existing roads every day. The alarming issue is that in spite of many of the remedies that are tested out to reduce the traffic congestion, there has not been any major improvement in this aspect. The traffic is only getting worse with every passing year.

2. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

   The main objective of this study is to elucidate traffic congestion Pala Civil Station, Kottayam, Kerala by proposing a suitable traffic improvement proposal for long term solution. This is done on the basis of the data and conclusions obtained from the traffic studies conducted on the considered area.

   For achieving this, the objectives of the study are as follows:

   1. To find traffic improvement proposal for long term span.

   2. To carry out surveys in the study area including traffic volume survey, topographic survey.

   3. To analyse and evaluate intersections performance and recommend

      enhancing measures.

   4. To establish relative importance of any route or road facility.

   5. To minimize the number of potential conflicts and their severity.

   6. To identify the various factors governing the traffic congestion.

   7. To design the intersection on the basis of outcomes of traffic volume survey.

3. AREA OF STUDY

   Cement Junction is situated in the district of Kottayam, Kerala. For the research purpose, we are focusing on the 3- legged intersection in that area. One road is in the direction of Kottayam and the opposite to Nattakom and the third one istowards Kumarakom.

   Figure 1: Survey Site (Map)

4. METHODOLOGY

   1. Traffic Volume Study

      Traffic volume is the number of vehicles crossing

      Table 2: IRC: 70-1977 Recommended PCU Factors for Various types of Vehicles in Urban Roads

      Route s	PC U
      Kottayam to Nattakom	233 5
      Nattakom to Kottayam	291 8
      Nattakom to Kumarakom	665
      Kottayam to Kumarakom	394
      Kumarakom to Kottayam	741
      Kumarakom to Nattakom	747

      Table 1: PCU through each route

      a section of a road at any selected period of time. Traffic volume studies were conducted at the intersection of the cement junction. There were six routes Kottayam to Nattakom, Nattakom to Kottayam, Nattakom to Kumarakom, Kottayam to Kumarakom, Kumarakom to Kottayam and Kumarakom to Nattakom.

      4000

      3000

      2000

      1000

      0

      9:30-10:30 16:30-17:30

   2. Survey Methods

      Traffic survey is the important part of any intersection design. Nowadays there are several methods of conducting traffic volume surveys. The most well- known technique involves employing personnel at the vantage points in the junction and manually noting down the traffic volume with respect to the various vehicle classifications include 2 wheeler, 4 wheeler, heavy, etc. in terms of Passenger Car Units (PCU). Here we recorded the intersection from a nearby tall building having a visibility to intersection & 3 roads.

   3. PCU

      Vehicles of different classes of are found to use the common road way facilities. To estimate the traffic flow the different vehicle classes they areconverted, i.e. to one common standard vehicle unit. The common practice is to consider the passenger car as a standard vehicle unit to convert the other vehicle classes. The unit is called PCU.

      Fig 2: Graphical Representation of the type of vehicles passing through the intersection at peak hours.

5. SIMULATION

   1. DESIGN OF INTERSECTION MODEL

      VISSIM has various features, such as traffic flow, modelling, traffic light engineering, vehicle queue length analysis, pedestrian simulation, and also script-based modelling. Simulation provides us the advantage of being able to study how the created model behaves dynamically over time or after a certain span of time. A traffic characteristic on roads as a system varies with time and with a considerable amount of randomness and simultaneous interactions.

      At first we have to make the intersection model as a satellite image of the selected section of roads. On the basis of scale in the image, the map is scaled to match the models measurements to the actual intersection measurements. The modelling procedure begins by sketching straight roads and joining them directly to the intersection map. In places where roads crossing conflict areas appear where the priority of vehicles in the event of an uncontrolled intersection needs to be defined.

      Figure 3: Formation of Routes in Software

      After the model has been made, all the components have been added to the model. First is vehicle inputting, which is adding the vehicle volume to the model. The total vehicle flow through each entrance is added to the table shown in the fig-5 and assigned vehicle routes.

      Figure 4: Screenshot of Vehicle Input

   2. SIMULATION RESULT

   The simulation is basically a real-time traffic flow according to the inputted data. The simulation was run in 3600 seconds and we gotgood results. At some point the vehicles had tobe stopped due to the conflict zones. The

   signal timing also affected the queueing of the vehicles. After performing the simulation we get a set of results which includes:

   • Queue length

   • Vehicle delay

   • Stops

   Figure 5: Simulation at the intersection

   Figure 6: Final Simulation Result

6. CONCLUSION

The preset study focuses on suggesting long- term improvements at Cement junction. A traffic survey is conducted and determines the vehicle flow through each entrance. Optimum signal cycle time corresponding to minimum total delay to all the vehicles at the approach roads ofthe intersection is determined. . The performance evaluation of the junction was done with the several parameters taken during the course of the study. Based on the performance evaluation which was done at the junction, several improvement measures were suggested, out of which the most feasible alternatives have been suggested as a further step in improving theexisting traffic scenario. Owing to the growing financial capacities of the common man, more and more vehicles are coming out on the roads. And thus, there is a need to increase the transport and road infrastructure to cater to the needs and demands. This is an important step in the same direction. When properly designed, traffic signals and flyovers can increase the traffic handling capacity of an intersection, and when installed under conditions that

justify its use, it will be a valuable device for improving the safety and efficiency of both pedestrian and vehicular flow.

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