Transportation Systems Simulation - A Tutorial for Multi-Modal Simulation Using VISSIM/Parking: Geometric Network Design

Parking behavior can be modeled a number of ways in Vissim 7.0. Two of the ways don’t model the microscopic parking behavior, but are macroscopic guides for zone to zone assignment. These parking lot types are the “Zone Connector” and “Abstract Parking Lot”. Real parking lots with real parking spaces should be modeled using “Real Parking Spaces”. In this method each parking space must be defined, and have a parking route assigned to it. The example in this section explores the “Real Parking Space” modeling.

The Shoppes network used in the previous section is modeled here. Go here and download the file “theshoppesparkingbase.inpx”, “theshoppesparkingbase.layx, and “theshoppesparkingbase.inp0””. The .layx file has the basic vehicle network without parking spaces or pedestrian areas. The angled parking spaces in the central area are to be defined and parking time distributions are to be input for each parking space. Each real parking spaces requires four network objects; a link, connectors, parking lot, and parking routes. Time distributions must be defined for the parking lot to determine how long the car should stay parked.

Define Parking Time Distribution

 * 1) Go to Base Data > Distributions > Time (See Figure below)
 * 2) Then Right Click in the blank “Time Distribution” space and Hover over Add…
 * 3) Click on Normal Distribution.
 * 4) Go to the timedist tab in “shoppesdata.xlsx” and enter “innerparking” in the Name field, ”300” in the Mean field, and ”50” in the StdDev field.

Add Links

 * 1) Click on the network object Links.
 * 2) Zoom into a single parking space in the Network Editor window.
 * 3) Then CTRL+Right Click to place the link starting point.
 * 4) Next, Left Click to end the link approximately twice the distance of the parking space along the parking space (see the Figure below).
 * When the attributes tab open insert “Parking Space” in Name, “AC Dark” or Display, and “8” for width.

 Right Click on the link and Click Add Point to add two points approximately in the center of the link near the end of the parking space. (see Figure below).  Click and Drag the top point (the original ending point) and fold the link in on itself until it looks like the reversed link in the figure below. 

Add Connectors

 * 1) Click on the network object Links.
 * 2) Click on the Toggle Wireframe command to view the link in wireframe.
 * 3) Add an incoming connector to the parking space, CTRL+Right Click on the roadway link adjacent to the parking link and Click to end the connector on the incoming part of the parking link (see Figure below). Leave Connector attributes default.
 * 4) Add an outgoing connector from the parking space, CTRL+Right Click on the parking link and Click to end the connector on the adjacent roadway link (see Figure below). Leave Connector attributes default.

Add Real Parking Lot

 * 1) Click on the network object Parking Lots. (Make sure to toggle off wireframe)
 * 2) Then, CTRL+Right Click on the beginning of the parking space and end the real parking lot after it just overlaps with itself (see Figure below).
 * 3) Type “Inner Parking Space” in the Name field
 * 4) Make sure Real parking spaces is selected.
 * 5) Click on the Parking Spaces tab, and Choose ”innerparking” as the Blocking time distribution.

Before copying and pasting this parking space to the other spots, test it by setting up a vehicle route and running the simulation. 
 * Click on the network object Vehicle Routes and choose ”parking” from the drop down menu (see Figure below).
 * CTRL+Right Click on the roadway link approximately 50 ft in from of the park space and Click to end the route on the Parking Lot (see Figure below).
 * Run the simulation to observe the behavior, and fine tune the geometry until there are no erratic maneuvers.
 * Delete the test route.

Copy/Paste Parking Space Links

 * 1) Click on the network object Links.
 * 2) Right Click on the link with the parking space (not the connectors) and choose Copy.  Make sure the parking lot is selected as well using CTRL+Click.
 * 3) Next, Right Click where the next spot is desired and choose Paste. The link with parking lot should be copied (see Figure below).

Drag to move into the precise location (see Figure Below). Notice the connectors are not copied with it. 

Repeat this for All the parking spaces within the inner street (see Figure below). 

For each link, add the connectors as explained in previous sections (see Figure below). </ol>

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