Unit information: Transport and Mobility Modelling in 2021/22

Unit name	Transport and Mobility Modelling
Unit code	EMATM0021
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Eddie Wilson
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	EMAT20200 or equivalent.
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

The aim of this unit is to introduce some of the concepts, models and data that underpin transport planning decisions and the traffic engineering profession. We will cover flavours of the following topics:

1. Modern sources of travel and traffic data (e.g., inductance loops, ANPR, bluetooth / wifi, mobile phone call records, census data etc.)
2. Macroscopic models for travel demand - (e.g., the gravity and radiation models). The OD (origin-destination) matrix and the problem of its estimation. Travel survey techniques.
3. Traffic assignment problem - that predicts the proportion of different users taking different routes and modes as a function of the travel demand and the network. The user equilibrium and system optimal assignments and elementary examples of their computation.
4. Link cost models - simple examples including macroscopic Fundamental diagram models, whole-link models, queueing models etc.
5. Principles of microsimulation. Car-following models and best practice in their use.
6. Basics of traffic control (traffic lights etc.) and their optimisation.

The course will also incorporate one or two seminars by external speakers who will speak on topical points such as congestion charging or automated vehicles.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. explain the basic principles that underpin transport planning
2. give an overview of the various sources of travel and transport data, and the ways that they can be used and misused
3. perform simple calculations that either forecast travel demand or estimate the OD matrix from observations of link flows etc
4. formulate route and mode choice as a Nash game, and compute UE and SO traffic assignments for simple network problems by hand
5. give an overview of the principles and of the simplest examples for modelling road traffic flow on a single link, for incorporation into wider network analyses
6. explain the use and potential for misuse of microscopic traffic simulation models; and be able to compute simple properties of a car-following model from its analytical formulation
7. state the basic principles of traffic signal engineering and how traffic controls might be optimised
8. give an overview of how all this theory may be used in future transport applications.

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures, supported by live online sessions, problem sheets and self-directed exercises.

Assessment Information

1 Summative Assessment, 100% - Coursework. This will assess all ILOs.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EMATM0021).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.