Data & Modelling: Winter 2010

The modelling world would seem to be suffering from something of a crisis of confidence at present. No longer is there a long string of articles in this supplement boasting of the immense potential for modelling to add value to the transport planning process (although there are still some in this vein). What the modelling community is currently talking about, apparently, is how we recognise the limits to modelling and ensure that, when models are used, it is just as important that we realise what they can’t do as what they can. So, for example, Robert Bain talks about the usefulness of peer reviews to keep modellers honest, and Mott MacDonald’s Chris White outlines his company’s ongoing attempts to minimise the risk inherent in trying to predict the future via computer modelling. But it is not all doom and gloom. Atkins’ Anan Allos and Somerset County Council’s Emma Cockburn, for example, outline ways in which the raw data upon which all modelling work is undertaken can be improved in the future. And surely this is good news for the modelling community – after all, without good data the whole modelling exercise is futile, remember.

Breaking down the workplace parking levy’s effects

MVA’s David Carter on modelling workplace parking levies

The benefits of peer pressure

Infrastructure investment analyst Robert Bain on the potential of peer review to improve the modelling sector

Risk assessment: taking no chances

Mott MacDonald’s Chris White on how risk should be managed when transport is being modelled

Not just a pretty interface

Aimsun on how best to combine various types of transport modelling software

Adapting to circumstances

Siemens on the benefits of connecting an urban traffic control system to a simulation model

Transport modelling re-engineered

Peter Davidson outlines the improvements included in the upcoming version five of the Visual-tm programme

Modelling for all road users

TfL’s new modelling guidance includes for the first time advice on how best to incorporate the needs of pedestrians and cyclists

The need for new thinking on data

Atkins’ Anan Allos on the need for new kinds of data collection to power the next generation of models

Time to go back to school?

Somerset County Council’s Emma Cockburn discusses the potential benefits to modellers of the School Travel Health Check database