Features in SIDRA INTERSECTION
What Makes SIDRA INTERSECTION Different?
SIDRA INTERSECTION is a time-proven, easy-to-use software product that can analyse signalised and unsignalised intersections including roundabouts in one package. It is an advanced traffic evaluation tool that employs lane-by-lane and vehicle drive cycle models. It can perform signal timing optimisation for
fixed-time (pretimed) and actuated signals with simple to most sophisticated signal phasing schemes.
Powerful Features
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+ Powerful Modelling Capabilities
- Total package allowing analysis of many types of intersection: signalised at-grade intersections, roundabouts
(both single lane and multi lane), two-way stop and give-way (yield)
sign-control, all-way stop sign control, single-point urban
interchanges, signalised pedestrian crossings.
- Model consistency in evaluating alternative intersection treatments.
- Lane-by-lane capacity and performance analysis method allowing for exclusive lanes and unequal lane utilisation (superior to approach-based and lane-group models.
- Drive-cycle (modal analysis) method for prediction of operating cost, fuel consumption, greenhouse gas (CO2), pollutants (CO, NOX, HC), and individual delay components including stopped delay and geometric delay.
- Handle intersections with up to 8 legs, each with one-way or two-way traffic, one-lane or multi- lane approaches, and short lanes, slip lanes, continuous lanes and turn bans as relevant.
- Ability to calibrate traffic models for local conditions.
- Carry out a Design Life analysis to assess impact of traffic growth.
- Carry out sensitivity analyses to evaluate the impact of changes on parameters representing intersection geometry and driver behaviour.
- Optimise Cycle Time to determine the best cycle time for fixed-time (pretimed) or coordinated actuated signals.
- Design intersection geometry including lane use arrangements taking advantage of the unique lane-by-lane analysis method of SIDRA INTERSECTION.
- Short lane lengths (turn bays, lanes with parking upstream, and loss of a lane at the exit side).
- Analyse effects of heavy vehicles on intersection performance.
- Analyse complicated cases of shared lanes and opposed turns e.g. permissive and protected phases, slip lanes, turns on red)
- Analyse oversaturated conditions making use of the time-dependent delay, queue length
- Stop rate models used in SIDRA INTERSECTION.
- Analyse many design alternatives to optimise the intersection geometry, signal phasing and timings specifying different strategies for optimisation;
+ Superior Methodologies
- SIDRA INTERSECTION has been a valuable technology transfer tool based on extensive research carried out in Australia, USA and elsewhere. It has been developed continuously in response to feedback from practising traffic engineers and planners. This feedback has improved the methods used in SIDRA INTERSECTION and expanded its functionality to cover a wider range of problems.
- Developed over 20 years, SIDRA INTERSECTION uses one of the most advanced methodologies of any traffic design package.
+ Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2000) Compatible
SIDRA INTERSECTION is compatible with the US Highway Capacity Manual (HMC) . However, unlike some software packages available in the USA, the HCM version of
SIDRA INTERSECTION does not claim to be a simple replication of the HCM procedures. This means that:
- Generally (for all types of intersection), SIDRA INTERSECTION uses more advanced models and methods, including lane-by-lane analysis rather than analysis by lane groups, modeling of short lanes, detailed modeling
of geometric delays, and the use of drive cycles (cruise,
acceleration, deceleration and idling) for detailed modelling of
delay and travel time components as well as operating cost, fuel
consumption and emission estimation.
- The HCM version of SIDRA INTERSECTION is based on the
calibration of most model parameters using the HCM defaults as
applicable.
- SIDRA INTERSECTION includes various configuration options to
allow the user to choose between the HCM and standard SIDRA model
options, e.g. the HCM Delay and Queue model options.
- Some HCM models or methods are used in all versions of SIDRA
INTERSECTION , including the HCM Level of Service method and criteria, the delay and queue progression factors, and All-Way Stop Control (AWSC) analysis method (the SIDRA AWSC model is currently based on the HCM 1994 edition, and there are some
differences between the SIDRA and HCM two-way stop control models).
- Read more about SIDRA for HCM
+ Roundabout Analysis
- The latest version of SIDRA INTERSECTION is advanced software for roundabouts and provides powerful model calibration facilities. Calibration parameters such as Environment Type, and the Sensitivity Analysis facility can be used to achieve observed capacity values.
- The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) version of SIDRA INTERSECTION uses a default Environment Factor of 1.2 to match the lower capacity estimates based on the findings of NCHRP 3-65 research on US roundabouts (preliminary research results were presented at the TRB National Conference on Roundabouts, Vail, Colorado (22-25 May 2005).
- Comparisons of capacity estimates from alternative roundabout capacity models, including the Australian, German and US (HCM and FHWA) methods.
- Read more about Roundabouts
+ Advanced Signal Timing Options
- Advanced signal timing options such as green split priority for coordinated movements, equal and unequal target degrees of saturation, cycle time optimisation for fixed-time (pretimed) signal analysis, and maximum green optimisation for actuated signal analysis.
- Determine signal timings (fixed-time / pretimed and actuated)
for any intersection geometry allowing for simple as well as complex
phasing arrangements;
+ Simplified Input Preparation
- Enter input using graphics-based input dialogs. The intersection geometry and signal phasing data style of SIDRA INTERSECTION reflects the design process directly. Together with the use of Layout and Volume Summary displays for easy checking of data, simplify the input preparation task to a great extent, and reduce data errors.
- Increase productivity through powerful file management.
+ Customised Templates
- Use the Templates facility for common intersection layouts and greatly reduce data preparation time.
+ Defaults System & Customised Models
- SIDRA INTERSECTION has an extensive defaults system that covers all input data parameters (except volumes!), and most traffic model parameters.
- You can create your own customised model and edit the default parameters set for your own purposes, e.g. to calibrate some parameters for your local conditions.
+ Numerous Performance Measures
- Average delay (stopped delay, queuing delay, geometric delay, control delay): seconds per vehicle, seconds per person
- Total delay (delay rate): veh-hours per hour, person-hours per hour
- Back of queue (average, 70th, 85th, 90th, 95th, 98th percentile): vehicles, persons, feet, metre
- Cycle-average queue (average, 70th, 85th, 90th, 95th, 98th percentile): vehicles, persons, feet, metre
- Overflow queue (vehicles)
- Level of service (HCM method, ICU, combined delay and degree
of saturation, and other options)
- Capacity (veh/h)
- Degree of saturation (v/c ratio): percentage
- Flow ratio (arrival flow / saturation flow ratio)
- Practical spare capacity: percentage
- Effective stop rate: number of stops per vehicle or per person
- Queue move-up rate: number of stops per vehicle or per person
- Proportion queued: percentage
- Average travel speed: mph, km/h
- Average running speed: mph, km/h
- Negotiation speed in intersection area: mph, km/h
- Performance Index: a weighted combination of delay, stops and queue length
- Pollutant emissions (CO, HC, NOx, CO2): grams, kg (per hour, per km)
- Fuel consumption: gallons, litres, mpg, mL/100km
- Operating COST: Dollars (per hour, per mile or per km)
+ Inpect Output with Ease
- Obtain output including capacity, timing and performance results
reported for individual lanes, individual movements (or lane
groups), movement groupings (such as vehicles and pedestrians), and
for the intersection as a whole.
- Obtain estimates of capacity and performance characteristics
such as delay, queue length, stop rate as well as operating cost,
fuel consumption and pollutant emissions for all intersection types.
- Control the amount of output by selecting individual output
tables, with options for summary and full output.
- In your reports, present your data and results in picture and
graphs form.
- Printing pictures is easy using a Print function directly, or using the Windows clipboard facility for capturing graphical displays or text and pasting into a word processing or graphics file.
+ Learning
- SIDRA INTERSECTION contains comprehensive help facilities. The Help menu gives access to the main Help file and the SIDRA SOLUTIONS website.
- Extensive documentation (500-page User Guide plus major
supporting technical reports and papers). See Downloads.
- We have been running highly successful SIDRA Training Workshops to help you solve intersection evaluation and design problems effectively and reliably. You can contact our Representatives to facilitate organisation of a training workshop for employees and other SIDRA
SOLUTIONS software users in your region.