Short Programs
Modeling and Simulation of Transportation Networks
Date: July 29-August 2, 2013 | Tuition: $2,900 | Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 2.8
Application Deadline »
Introduction | Learning Objectives | Who Should Attend | Program Outline | Schedule | Participants' Comments | About the Lecturers | Scholarships | Location | Updates
INTRODUCTION
Modeling and simulation methods are essential elements in the design and operation of transportation systems. Congestion problems in cities worldwide have prompted, at all levels of government and industry, a proliferation of interest in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) that include advanced supply and demand management techniques. Such techniques include real-time traffic control measures and real-time traveler information and guidance systems whose purpose is to assist travelers in making departure time, mode, and route choice decisions. Transportation researchers have developed models and simulators for use in the planning, design, and operations of such systems. This course draws heavily on the results of recent research and is sponsored by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The course studies theories and applications of transportation network demand and supply models and simulation techniques. It provides an in-depth study of the world's most sophisticated traffic simulation models, demand modeling methods, and related analytical techniques, including discrete choice models and their application to travel choices and driving behavior; origin-destination estimation; prediction of traffic congestion; traffic flow models and simulation methods (microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic); and alternative dynamic traffic assignment methods.
Fundamentals: Core concepts, understandings, and tools (20%)
Latest Developments: Recent advances and future trends (60%)
Industry Applications: Linking theory and real-world (20%)
Lecture: Delivery of material in a lecture format (100%)
Introductory: Appropriate for a general audience (25%)
Specialized: Assumes experience in practice area or field (50%)
Advanced: In-depth explorations at the graduate level (25%)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Understand transportation network demand and supply models.
- Distinguish among alternative approaches to dynamic traffic assignment and traffic simulation.
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of alternative network modeling and simulation methods.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This program is intended for analysts, engineers, managers, and planners, as well as industry, government, and academic researchers who seek to understand, analyze, and predict performance of transportation systems. Participants with backgrounds in diverse areas such as traffic engineering, systems engineering, transportation planning, operations management, operations research, and control systems are welcome.
PROGRAM OUTLINE
The course consists of a series of lectures, including software demonstrations and case studies that develop the concepts and techniques and demonstrate their applications.
The following lecture topics may be addressed as part of the course:
- Introduction to Transportation Network Models
- Traffic Flow Theory and Simulation Approaches
- Microscopic, Mesoscopic, and Macroscopic Traffic Simulation Models.
- Network Supply Models: Static and Dynamic
- Behavior in Networks
- Discrete Choice Analysis
- Route and Departure Time Choice
- Estimation Methods of Origin to Destination Flows from Traffic Counts
- Prediction of Origin to Destination Flows
- Microsimulation of Users' Behaviors
- Users' Response to ITS
- Supply/Demand Interactions, Day-to-Day Adjustment Processes, and Equilibrium Models
- Application for Real-Time Systems
- Simulation-based Dynamic Traffic Assignment Algorithms
- Evaluation of Dynamic Traffic Assignment Models
- Multimodal Networks with Scheduled Services
- Application of Modeling and Simulation to Traffic Management
- Calibration and Validation of Traffic Simulation Models
Course schedule, registration times, and Special Events
2013 schedule will be posted in early spring.
Class runs 9:30 am - 5:00 pm every day.
Registration is on Monday morning from 8:45 - 9:15 am.
Special events include a reception for course participants and faculty on Monday night and a dinner on Thursday evening. All evening activities are included in tuition.
Participants' Comments
Senior Specialist, Tennessee Valley Authority
“The MIT short course far exceeded the experience at other classes. The environment and instructor skills were excellent.”
Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
“In general, the quality level of the instructors made the course. To have 5 days of lectures from the academics who are advancing the state of the art instead of talking about the state of the practice was extremely beneficial.”
Senior Support Engineer, Citilabs
“Positive; a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in my field and discuss ideas with peers.”
Assistant Staff Scientist, E2ManageTech
“Great overview with specificity of model design, confirmation, calibration, and application.”
ABOUT THE LECTURERS
Professor Moshe Ben-Akiva, Director of the MIT ITS Laboratory, is the Lecturer-In-Charge. Guest lecturers may include: Ennio Cascetta (University of Naples/Ministry of Transport – Regione Campania, Italy), Pierluigi Coppola (University of Rome), Haris Koutsopoulos (KTH Royal Institute of Technology), and/or Hani Mahmassani (Northwestern University).
Scholarships
One full-tuition scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding doctoral student. Half-tuition scholarships are also available for doctoral students. Scholarship applications must include a CV and a letter stating the relevance of the course to the applicant’s research.
Please contact Katie Rosa at krosa@mit.edu with any questions. The deadline to apply is June 15, 2013.
Discounts for Faculty
In addition, a limited number of partial-tuition scholarships are available for teaching faculty, rank of instructor or higher, at other educational institutions. You may submit a scholarship request by filling out a Scholarship Request Form after your application to the course has been submitted. Please note that these scholarships are only for tuition and do not cover travel, lodging, or other expenses associated with the course.
If you have any questions please contact the Short Programs office.
Location
This course takes place on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We can also offer this course for groups of employees at your location. Please contact the Short Programs office for further details.
