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Short Programs

Modeling and Simulation of Transportation Networks [1.10s]

Date: August 2-6, 2010 | Tuition: $2,900 | Continuing Education Units (CEUs): 2.9

Introduction  |  Learning Objectives  |  Who Should Attend  |  Outline of the Program  |  Schedule  | 
On-Site Courses  |  About the Lecturers  |  Scholarships  |  Updates

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Combination Courses Package

Save $680 by taking both this course and Discrete Choice Analysis: Predicting Demand and Market Shares [14.61s]. Combined tuition is $6,120. Apply for this package now »

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.

Content

Fundamentals  Fundamentals: Core concepts, understandings and tools (20%)

Latest Developments  Latest Developments: Recent advances and future trends (60%)

Industry Applications  Industry Applications: Linking theory and real-world (20%)

Delivery Methods

Fundamentals  Lecture: Delivery of material in a lecture format (90%)

Industry Applications  Labs: Demonstrations, experiments, simulations (10%)

Level

Fundamentals  Introductory: Appropriate for a general audience (25%)

Latest Developments  Specialized: Assumes experience in practice area or field (50%)

Industry Applications  Advanced: In-depth explorations at the graduate level (25%)

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  1. Understand transportation network demand and supply models.
  2. Distinguish among alternative approaches to dynamic traffic assignment and traffic simulation.
  3. Assess the advantages and disadvantages of alternative network modeling and simulation methods.
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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.

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OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM

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
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Course schedule, registration times and Special Events

Class runs 9:30 am - 5:30 pm every day except Friday when it ends at 4:00 pm (variable based on course participant questions).

Registration is on Monday morning from 7:30 - 8:30 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.

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On-site Courses

We can also offer this course for groups of employees at your location. Please contact the Short Programs office for further details.

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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), Michael Florian (University of Montreal), Haris Koutsopoulos (Northeastern University), and Hani Mahmassani (Northwestern University).

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Discounts for Faculty

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 the 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.

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Updates

There are no updates at this time.

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