Dynamic traffic assignment as a "what-if" scenario analysis tool

A Dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) model can be used to analyse various "what if" scenarios. A DTA model uses advanced traffic modelling techniques complemented with equilibrium-seeking routing strategies to estimate how traffic forms, propagates and dissipates in a network given an origin-destination demand matrix and a range of different scenarios. We can use a DTA model to evaluate the impact of adding or removing a link to/from the network, road use pricing, traveller information, disruption in the network, evacuation, traffic management and control strategies, and so on.

DynaMel is the first large-scale mesoscopic simulation-based DTA model of Melbourne. We have deployed DynaMel in the AIMSUN environment and so far have calibrated and validated it for 6 - 10 AM morning peak period. Following is a video demo of DynaMel, showing how congestion forms and spreads throughout the CBD area and gradually recovers towards the end of the peak period.