Basics

First, let us understand the basics of how vehicle movement is modeled in MSV.

Defining Vehicle and Pedestrian Movements: Way, Stream, and Flow

In MSV, the movement of vehicles and pedestrians is defined using three basic elements: Way, Stream, and Flow. These elements work together to simulate realistic traffic patterns and pathways.

Way

• Definition: A "way" is an abstract representation of any physical area where vehicles or pedestrians move.
• Versatility:
  • It usually represents a road.
  • However, it can also define specific areas, such as:
    • A section along a roadway.
    • A set of lanes on a road.
    • A golf course path for carts.
    • A trekking path in a forest area.
• Key Data:
  • Number of Lanes: Specifies how many lanes the way contains.
  • Lane Width: Determines the width of each lane.
• Why Not "Roadway"?
  • The term "way" is used instead of "roadway" to highlight its flexibility for applications beyond typical road environments.

Stream

• Definition: A "stream" represents the path along which vehicles or pedestrians move. A stream can represent various types of movement, such as vehicle streams, pedestrian streams, bus-only streams, bicycle streams, or even airport buggy streams, depending on the modeled environment.
• How it Works:
  • A stream is created by selecting a sequence of ways that define the complete path.
  • Streams allow vehicles or pedestrians to travel seamlessly across different ways.
• Flexibility:
  • Streams can have varying widths, as each way in the sequence may have different lane widths or specific lanes chosen for the stream.

Flow

Flow refers to the number of vehicles or entities moving per hour per lane. For vehicle streams, the user must specify the percentage split (modal split in transport terminology) for each type of vehicle within the defined flow.

In MSV, origin-destination flow matrices are not used. Instead, the user directly specifies the number of entities (e.g., vehicles) in each stream. Similarly, there is no concept of shortest-path routing; the user must define the exact path they want the vehicles to follow.

By combining ways and streams, users can define complex and realistic traffic or pedestrian movement scenarios tailored to a variety of environments.

With these basics in mind, we will now explore the elements of the simulation environment and how to use them effectively.