Prepared by Jongsun Won, PE, Betsy LaRue, PTV America, Inc.
The purpose of this page is to provide step by step guidance on modeling signalized intersection(s) in microscopic traffic simulation model, PTV Vissim.
In order to make this guidance more practical, we have provided more direct guidance rather than staying at the general level. This guidance will only cover modeling signalized intersections and assumes that the reader is already aware of the basic microscopic simulation modeling process. If you need guidance on any other part of the modeling process, refer to other resources or training opportunities. Also, if you would like to go in depth to the details on any traffic signal operation, we would recommend you refer to “Traffic Signal Timing Manual (2015)”.
There are five (5) basic components for the signalized intersection modeling in microscopic simulation modeling. Some of the five (5) components represent the signal control objects that you can find in the field and some represent the behavior of the drivers at the signalized intersections. The five (5) basic components are:
1) Signal Controller
2) Signal Timing Plan
3) Signal Head
4) Priority Control for Permissive Movements
5) Detector
Fortunately, the five components listed above typically need to be created in sequential order because most components are connected to each other and affect the simulation model collectively. Therefore, the overall process can also be understood in five steps to add these five basic components. The flowchart in the figure below shows the process of signalized intersection modeling with its basic components.