With the concept of shared space gaining in popularity and the distinction between pedestrian and traffic engineering becoming less clearly defined, the need for combining pedestrian and traffic assessments was never higher. This presentation demonstrates the value of integrated simulation of pedestrian movements, public transport and road traffic using case studies of impact assessments in a number of different contexts and countries around the world. We give examples of interactions between vehicular and pedestrian traffic where capacity constraints for one mode create bottlenecks in the other and where solutions are derived from an integrated treatment of both. At a European concert venue we show how large and disorderly post-concert queues in front of a tram station and adjacent car park can be first anticipated, then reduced and finally managed. We then examine the problem of separating Olympic spectator movements on foot from the inevitable road traffic near an Olympic Park. While this seems easily attainable, the need for step-free access for spectators with mobility difficulties gives rise to undesirable interactions at pedestrian crossings where large numbers of pedestrians have to cross frequently and slowly. Integrated simulation helps to anticipate and mitigate traffic jams whilst allowing people with mobility difficulties to watch the Olympic games without sacrificing comfort. We then look at a North American mixed-use site: a sports complex and a sizeable, and profitable, retail facility need to coexist harmoniously. The situation is complicated by the location of the car park on the other side of the busy freeway that links the facility with nearby urban areas. Interactions between ingressing and egressing spectators with road traffic and effective management of “shoppers†versus “fans†are major challenges which are overcome by first modelling and visualising the patterns of interaction, then implementing preventive measures to effect segregation. Our next case focuses on a large tourist attraction in the middle of a major metropolis. The range of pedestrian types could not be broader. They include local, national and international tourists and visitors to the site, commuters using the site’s underground transport facilities, staff and local office workers. Traffic and pedestrians interact heavily with city’s grid structure imposing queues of either mode at every corner. Conflicting priorities arise between minimising emissions, ensuring safety and security, maximising visitor comfort and minimising the inconvenience of those who transit through this area. The use of tens of simulated scenarios helps to identify problems and test solutions. Paradoxically some important cost-saving design changes actually increase the capacity of the site and enhance the experience of all of the user types. In summary this paper makes a strong case for the usefulness of integrated pedestrian and traffic simulation for effective impact assessments. (Author/publisher)
Abstract