Exploring methods and potential enhancements for regulating pedestrian crossings and priority regulations in Vissim traffic simulation software
Abstract
In our research we examined the operation of the Vissim traffic simulation software in the vicinity of a pedestrian crossing. Our primary focus was on presenting the functioning principles of priority regulation methods, comparing them, identifying their shortcomings, and demonstrating potential areas for improvement. While Vissim offers two fundamental modes for regulating priority – creating conflict zones and establishing priority rules – these modes do not adequately address issues such as failure to yield priority or pedestrians'
distance-based crossing decisions. Therefore, we adopted a novel approach, employing loop detectors at 10-meter distance intervals to detect vehicles and implemented signal logic based on detector data to simulate pedestrians' distance-based crossing decisions. We implemented real and measured pedestrian decision-making mechanisms into the software environment, then validated the modifications made in the program and evaluated their effects on simulation parameters (execution time, accuracy). The developed new approach better approximates reality, thus enhancing the quality of traffic simulations.
References
Sucha, M., Dostal, D., Risser, R. (2017). Pedestrian-driver communication and decision strategies at marked crossings. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 102(2017), 468-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2017.02.018
Hulse, L. M., Xie, H., & Galea, E. R. (2018). Perceptions of autonomous vehicles: Relationships with road users, risk, gender and age. Safety science, 102, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2017.10.001
Tezcan, H. O., Elmorssy, M., & Aksoy, G. (2019). Pedestrian crossing behavior at midblock crosswalks. Journal of safety research, 71, 49-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2019.09.014
Bertulis, T., & Dulaski, D. M. (2014). Driver approach speed and its impact on driver yielding to pedestrian behavior at unsignalized crosswalks. Transportation Research Record, 2464(1), 46-51. https://doi.org/10.3141/2464-06
Schneider, R. J., Sanatizadeh, A., Shaon, M. R. R., He, Z., & Qin, X. (2018). Exploratory analysis of driver yielding at low-speed, uncontrolled crosswalks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Transportation research record, 2672(35), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118782251
Hatfield, J., Fernandes, R., Job, R. S., & Smith, K. (2007). Misunderstanding of right-of-way rules at various pedestrian crossing types: observational study and survey. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39(4), 833-842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2006.12.005
Brewer, M. A., Fitzpatrick, K., Whitacre, J. A., & Lord, D. (2006). Exploration of pedestrian gap-acceptance behavior at selected locations. Transportation research record, 1982(1), 132-140. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198106198200117
Serag, M. S. (2014). Modelling pedestrian road crossing at uncontrolled mid-block locations in developing countries. International Journal of Civil & Structural Engineering, 4(3), 274-285. Google Scholar
Zhao, J., & Wu, J. (2003, October). Analysis of pedestrian behavior with mixed traffic flow at intersection. In Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (Vol. 1, pp. 323-327). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ITSC.2003.1251971
Oxley, J. A., Ihsen, E., Fildes, B. N., Charlton, J. L., & Day, R. H. (2005). Crossing roads safely: an experimental study of age differences in gap selection by pedestrians. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 37(5), 962-971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2005.04.017
Petzoldt, T. (2014). On the relationship between pedestrian gap acceptance and time to arrival estimates. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 72, 127-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2014.06.019
Liu, M., Zeng, W., Chen, P., & Wu, X. (2017). A microscopic simulation model for pedestrian-pedestrian and pedestrian-vehicle interactions at crosswalks. PLoS one, 12(7), e0180992. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180992
Zhao, J., Malenje, J. O., Wu, J., & Ma, R. (2020). Modeling the interaction between vehicle yielding and pedestrian crossing behavior at unsignalized midblock crosswalks. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 73, 222-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2020.06.019
Zeng, W., Chen, P., Yu, G., & Wang, Y. (2017). Specification and calibration of a microscopic model for pedestrian dynamic simulation at signalized intersections: A hybrid approach. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 80, 37-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2017.04.009
Fi, I., & Igazvölgyi, Z. K. (2014). Travel time delay at pedestrian crossings based on microsimulations. Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering, 58(1), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPci.7406
Dahlberg, L., & Segernäs, M. (2017). Optimisation of the simulated interaction between pedestrians and vehicles-A comparative study between using conflict areas and priority rule in Vissim. URL: https://odr.chalmers.se/server/api/core/bitstreams/0166630b-6ebe-4882-9b2b-f7c3d69bac1c/content
Farrag, S., El-Hansali, M. Y., Yasar, A., & Shakshuki, E. M. (2020). Simulation-based evaluation of using variable speed limit in traffic incidents. Procedia Computer Scien-ce, 175, 340-348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2020.07.049[
Martin-Gasulla, M., García, A., & Moreno, A. T. (2016). Benefits of metering signals at roundabouts with unbalanced flow: Patterns in Spain. Transportation Rese-arch Record, 2585(1), 20-28. https://doi.org/10.3141/2585-03
Anil, R., Satyakumar, M., & Salim, A. (2019, September). Emergency vehicle signal pre-emption system for heterogeneous traffic condition: A case study in trivandrum city. In 2019 4th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Engineering (ICITE) (pp. 306-310). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICITE.2019.8880151
The journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. There are no Open Access (OA) fees or charges (APCs) charged to either authors or readers, i.e. the articles can be used for non-commercial purposes, without changes or modifications.
All articles published in the journal are licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.
The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party and will not be used for any other purpose or be accessible to any other party.
