V6.6
Quadstone Paramics V6.6 is the latest release of our award winning Paramics software. This update includes many new features requested by users and some major additions in functionality including:
Public Transport Upgrade
The public transport model in 6.6 has received some significant enhancements. A range of new behavioural rules are now available allowing the user to fine tune PT vehicle operation in the simulation model; for example requiring normal traffic to give way to PT vehicles (Buses, Trams, Light Rail) as they pull out from a PT stop. In addition new reporting and alighting rate options are now available.
Most importantly 6.6 now offers a PT Schedule and “Layovers” facility. Users can code a fixed schedule for PT vehicles detailing the time at which each vehicle should arrive at associated PT stops throughout the model. In addition users can designate PT stops as layover points where PT vehicles ahead of schedule will wait to maintain headways of service intervals.
Driver Type Specific Fixed Turning Penalties
6.6 provides the facility to code periodic fixed turning penalties for familiar and unfamiliar drivers. The turning penalties can be used in addition to all assignment types to better represent driver behaviour for example as a negative factor encouraging drivers to avoid a difficult or congested turning movement.
HOT Lanes
High Occupancy Tolling (HOT) lanes are now available in 6.6 in a new network editor model called Dynamic Rules. HOT allows the user to define a scheduled or fully dynamic set of tolling criteria which can be used to model real world scenarios. When a driver encounters a VMS associated with an HOT facility, the driver will choose whether to take the Standard route or the HOT route. This decision is based upon whether taking the tolled route will save time and whether a monetary saving will be made; both the time saving and the toll cost are displayed in the VMS.
Variable Speed Limit Scenarios
A new dynamic rule for Variable Speed Limits (VSL) has been added in 6.6. VSL rules let users define sections of roadway where gantry or road side signs are used to enforce Variable Speed Limits by adjusting allowable link speeds based on a range of trigger criteria such as speed, flow and detector occupancy. VSL rules can be time dependent and allow the user to define a set of hierarchical trigger criteria that can be used to dynamically vary link speeds using different trigger criteria in different scenarios.
Google SketchUp Support
Paramics Designer now support Google SketchUp as a source data type. You can download your SketchUp models from Goggle’s 3D online warehouse or just create your 3D models in SketchUp directly. This new functionality makes it much easier for users to produce life like visuals in their models adding to the already powerful high resolution graphics engine provided in the core Paramics tools.
Mesh Point and Node Position Import/Export from CAD Tools
In an effort to improve linkage with CAD tools and to streamline users’ work processes 6.6 allows you to export node positions to common CAD tools and adjust their heights by mapping to a surface model. The newly adjusted node positions can then be imported back into Modeller giving accurate node heights and link gradients.
In addition Overlay mesh points can be exported and mapped to CAD surface models making it easy to build Overlay terrain models that accurately match the real world.
User Feature Requests
In addition to core functionality the first batch of user supplied Feature Requests from our online FR system have been implemented. User support for the online FR system has been fantastic, many thanks for all your great suggestions and feedback.
V6.5
This update includes many new features requested by users and some major additions in functionality including:
Route Control
A new Route Control option has been added to the network editor in 6.5 allowing the user to specifically define the routes that vehicles will use to traverse the network overriding any default routing information determined by the underlying traffic assignment processes. Users can define a series of links as a route and save this information in the Project Library for easy access. Advanced configuration options such as the proportion of vehicles, time period, vehicle type and origin / destination zones (which the route rule will affect) may also be defined.
Point to Point Journey Times
Point to Point journey times can now be collected from Analyser using Project Library routes items. Routes items can be pre-defined or created at run time allowing you to define and refine your data collection requirements without the need to re-run simulation. A range of powerful new reporting options are available for Point to Point journey times in Analyser 6.5.
Aggregated Loop Data & Turning Delays
6.5 now provides all the powerful analytics, reporting and graphics features you're used to seeing in Analyser for detailed lane by lane loop data.
In addition turning delay and link travel time information have also been added to Analyser and the display control UI has been re-worked to make it even easier to use.
Paramics Pedestrian Module (PPM)
Quadstone Paramics provides a realistic representation of the 'friction' to traffic flow caused by pedestrians. Our simple to use pedestrian modelling system allows users to obtain meaningful results quickly, ensuring a realistic model is developed within the minimum amount of time and resource. In Quadstone Paramics, our pedestrians are free space agents; simulated people who can move freely within the study area defined by the user. The PPM is available from 6.5 onwards as a new paid for option.
V6.4.1
This update includes many new features requested by users and some major additions in functionality including:
Blockage Removal Tool
A new core tool has been introduced which identifies blockages and artificial congestion in the network caused by coding errors or poor simulation operation. This new diagnostics tool allows the user to configure a number of rules which identify and remove stuck vehicles. The user has complete control over the identification and removal criteria allowing the tool to be applied with accuracy. Results are presented in the Information Browser and reported to the new "Tool Logs" data store. In addition graphical markers are used to indicate the location and magnitude of the blockages while the "ghosts" of the removed vehicles are shown to aid understanding.
Marking Rules - Journey Times and Match All Options
6.4 includes extensions to marking rules that allow run time select link information to be gathered i.e. O, D, count, max/min/ave. journey time. This allows users to collect more detailed journey time and OD volume information from the model using all the selection and filtering options available in marking rules. Results are presented in the Information Browser and reported to the new "Tool Logs" data store. In addition, marking rules with more than one link can be triggered by all or any links defined. This allow the collection of data under more specific conditions i.e. information by turning movement, or by vehicles that follow a specific path through the network.
Hotspots - Max and Ave. Queue Analysis
Hotspots have received a significant overhaul in 6.4 to include information about average and maximum queuing conditions in the network. User can configure the hotspots tool to collect average queue statistics and queuing persistence for a specified interval period in addition to the run time or second by second queuing information supplied in earlier version of this tool. In addition the maximum queue observed during any interval period can be recorded. Results are presented in the Information Browser and reported to the new "Tool Logs" data store.
Tool Logs Data-store
A new Tool Logs data store is now created per network. This data store complements the existing Logs directory and is used to collect information and data analysis from the simulation generated at run time. Tools that generate data to this location include Blockage Removal, Marking Rules, Hotspots, and Vehicle Tracer.
Network Files Edit Log and Editor Updates
Network editing routines have been improved in a number of way for 6.4. Firstly a file header is now created in every network files when it is saved following user edits. This header records information such as who created the network file and when it was last edited and who by. Functional changes to the Editor Palette include a new ways to add links between a selected A and B node and new shortcut keys for clearing current selections (Esc and F11) to suit both left and right handed users.
