The preliminary design and development of a multi-modal, agent-based, microsimulation transportation model, using Oasys MassMotion

B.A.Sc. Thesis, University of Toronto

Abstract

Current industry-level transportation simulation models are multi-modal, but pedestrian behaviour is neglected and simplified in favour of a well-developed automobile model. As a result, simulation results and data are not as accurate as they have the potential to be. The purpose of this design thesis project is to address this issue by investigating the potential of developing a multi-modal transportation simulation model using Oasys MassMotion, an advanced pedestrian simulation model. Namely, the investigation is directed at expanding MassMotion’s functionality to move from a building-scale environment to a neighbourhood-scale environment, and from incorporating only pedestrian agents to incorporating both automobile and pedestrian agents in the simulation. The development of a proof-of-concept model was broken down into three steps: a pedestrian-only design in a city block environment, an automobile-only design in a city block environment, and an integrated, multi-modal design in a city block environment. The proof-of-concept was successful in demonstrating MassMotion’s potential for further development, and further development is recommended. However, there are numerous further developments that must be made before MassMotion can be used as a fully-functional, accurate transportation model.

Full paper available upon request.

Supervisor:  Dr. Eric Miller, Director of Cities Center, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto

(B.A.Sc. Thesis: 75 pages. University of Toronto, B.A.Sc. in Engineering Science, Infrastructure. 2012.)