TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MODELING AND EVALUATION

3.4

CHAPTER THREE

3.2.4 Performance Models

Performance models quantify traffic characteristics (volume, speed, traffic density, travel
time, delay, etc.) that are directly used to evaluate transportation systems and their components. Such quantities include costs, noise, air pollution, and users perceptions of conditions.
Widely known models include a model of vehicle emission MOBILE (Jack Faucett Associates 1994) and a model of aircraft noise generation and propagation INM (Volpe Center
2002). These and other performance models can accompany all the three transportation
models already introduced, depending on the type of transportation analysis: planning, design, operations.

3.2.5 Modeling Paradigms

Figure 3.1 depicts the traditional modeling paradigm used in transportation engineering.
Modeling is carried out in three separate modeling phases: demand modeling, network modeling, and traffic flow modeling. Each of the modeling phases provides input to performance
models. The outcome of the demand modeling phase is used to model traffic assignment in
the transportation networks, while the outcome of the network modeling provides necessary
input to the traffic flow facility modeling at transportation facilities. Each phase can be
performed by a different transportation engineering unit and the results transferred from one
unit to another.
The traditional modeling paradigm was proven to provide a manageable modeling framework using data that are available and providing computational demands that are reasonable.
This was accomplished in each phase through adequately defining and representing the transportation systems. Demand models represent the transportation and economy of the studied
region with synthetic characteristics of sub-regions. Network models must be more detailed
and present all important components of the transportation infrastructure. However, they
represent only part of the region transportation infrastructure. Although they require more
data, the task is distributed among multiple planning organizations. The geometric design
and operational analysis of a transportation facility requires the most detailed information,
but such an analysis is performed only for selected facilities. In the traditional modeling
paradigm, the outputs from higher models are input to lower models and there is no twoway interaction.

Demand

Regional
Performance

Network

Network
Performance

Traffic

Facility
Performance

FIGURE 3.1 Traditional transportation modeling

paradigm.

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