Management of Traffic Modelling Processes and Applications

This report provides advice to project managers who may not have specific technical experience in the modelling field to assist in commissioning and managing services in Simulation (Mesoscopic and Microscopic) and Intersection modelling services. It aims to: Provide comprehensive guidance that project managers can refer to for support in their project work that requires modelling. Promote further consistency between jurisdictions in describing elements and processes involved in modelling. Identify, explain, and where possible resolve differences in the nature of guidance offered by various sources. Support best practice in modelling, drawing on and complementing existing guidelines towards a unified and comprehensive framework. The advice has been developed through close engagement with jurisdictions, including the Austroads Project Working Group and ATAP representatives, as well as through a review of literature and a survey of practice to ensure its relevance and currency. This report was initially published in June 2020 under the title “Building Transport Modelling Management and Capability in Australasian Road and Transport Agencies: Simulation and Intersection Models”. The Austroads Project Working Group considered industry feedback received upon this initial publication and decided to revise the report as per the following key updates: Additional acknowledgements that the traffic and transport modelling industry is constantly evolving and that the Austroads report is reflective of the research and information at the time of development. Additional clarity and transparency on the purpose of the report, in providing high-level guidance to non-modellers while also directing them to other publications / guidelines or subject matter experts where relevant. This included changing the report title to “Management of Traffic Modelling Processes and Applications”. Clearer definition of the terms “traffic” and “transport” as it relates to the report content. Additional explanations accompanying the model categorisation to clearly articulate its intentions and target audience. Revision and update of specific technical information contained in the report, particularly in “Chapter 4 - Intersection Models” by clarifying that the term “intersection models” can contain multiple intersections along a small corridor / network.