Pedestrian Modelling Guidelines
The AITPM Transport Modelling Network (TMN) has prepared a set of guidelines to help in the specification and creation of pedestrian static and microsimulation models.
It is hoped that the AITPM Pedestrian Modelling Guidelines will help elevate the quality of the modelling product resulting from a pedestrian microsimulation process and providing insights into assessing how various modelling approaches may impact the credibility and robustness of results. Generally, these guidelines are aimed at the modelling of high-capacity transport interchanges and stadia, although many of the principles are equally applicable to non-transit environments.
It is hoped that this guidance will also result in a more consistent approach being adopted and accepted by client bodies as the guidance also covers areas which can reduce the credibility and effectiveness of pedestrian microsimulation. This guidance is general in nature and not specific to any particular software platform, but it is hoped that by raising awareness of the components of modelling a better outcome would result for clients, practitioners and the end users of the spaces being modelled.
The Guidelines are the result of a number of contributions from across the spectrum of academia and consultants and it is hoped that this represents the first edition of a document which continues to improve and evolve as requirements change and in response to user comments.
AITPM acknowledges the voluntary efforts of the editorial team in producing in these guidelines, and invite any comments on the guidelines to be emailed to the AITPM Secretariat.
Verson 2 - released March 2024
Following the launch of the first AITPM Pedestrian Modelling guidelines in 2021, we have taken on board a range of feedback and have prepared an updated Version 2. This provides further clarity around model calibration and validation as well as additional guidance on how to interpret results.
These guidelines are aimed at three target audiences:
- Model Practitioners who build pedestrian models.
- Clients who commission models.
- Interested Parties - his can include other technical disciplines which rely on pedestrian modelling or stakeholders who are presented with modelling results.
As per the original guidelines, there are four principal objectives which this guidance hopes to deliver:
- Guidance for practitioners in order to deliver better quality models and to deter poor practices.
- Standardisation of approach so that poor practices are avoided or at least the subsequent limitation understood.
- Improved model specification from clients to make model procurement easier and fairer.
- Improve the appreciation of model limitations so that stakeholders better understand what can and cannot be expected from pedestrian models.