Simulations Revolutionize Transportation Planning in Taiwan

Transportation planning in urban areas requires addressing complex challenges, from managing traffic congestion to ensuring efficient pedestrian movement. Advanced simulation tools enable planners to analyze and improve these systems without disrupting daily operations. From minimizing the impact of construction projects on public transit to managing large crowds at events or easing highway congestion, these tools empower cities to optimize mobility and enhance safety.

This article highlights how simulation-based approaches have driven progress in transportation and pedestrian planning in Taiwan.

Pedestrian Flow Planning around Songshan Station, Taipei

Imagine you’re walking through a busy metro station and suddenly a major construction project begins. Your first thought might be, “How will this affect my commute?” This is exactly what planners in Taipei had to figure out as they prepared to build a new station, Y36. The new station is adjacent to the busy Songshan Station (G19), the 8th busiest station in Taiwan with 30,000 daily boardings and alightings.

Using PTV Viswalk, engineers from Sinotech Engineering Consultants modeled how passengers would move through the existing station during construction. They analyzed everything from how people would use the stairs to the length of queues at the platform doors, giving them a clear picture of potential bottlenecks and allowing them to design alternative routes for passengers. This helped ensure that passengers could continue to use the station efficiently and safely despite the nearby construction.

Optimization of Train Intervals at Taoyuan Sports Park Station

Major events, such as concerts or sports games, always attract large crowds. Taoyuan Sports Park Station in Taiwan, located next to a busy sports stadium, regularly faces this challenge. During major events, the station must manage the inflow and outflow of tens of thousands of people – quickly and safely.

Previously, the station’s trains operated on a 15-minute interval, which often resulted in crowded platforms and long waiting times. Using PTV Viswalk, the team at Sinotech Engineering Consultants reduced the interval between trains to just 10 minutes. The result? The simulation showed that this simple change could reduce evacuation times from 160 minutes to just 110 minutes, significantly reducing platform congestion.

In addition to improving passenger flow, this increase in foot traffic opened the door to a new business opportunity. The station had 132 square meters of unused space, which the simulations suggested could be converted into retail outlets. This could generate an estimated additional NT$3.5 million (US$110,000) annually, making the station not only more efficient, but also more profitable. The key lesson here is that optimizing transportation systems doesn’t just benefit passengers – it can also increase commercial potential.

AI-based traffic management with RevoTraffic

Urban construction often causes major traffic headaches, but what if there was a way to alleviate that congestion in real time? That’s what RevoTraffic, an AI-powered traffic management platform, aims to do by optimizing traffic signals. Integrated with PTV Vissim, RevoTraffic provides dynamic, real-time traffic control during construction, adjusting signal timing and vehicle flow based on actual traffic conditions.

One of the key components of RevoTraffic is the continuous feedback loop it uses – called the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle – to adapt and improve traffic management. It monitors traffic conditions using CCTV cameras and adjusts traffic signals to reduce congestion as it occurs. The system’s ability to simulate traffic in real time and use AI algorithms to predict future traffic patterns makes it incredibly effective at reducing delays.

For example, during pilot testing in the Songshan Line construction zone in Taipei, RevoTraffic reduced travel times by approximately 3 minutes per trip. The platform also saved an estimated 379 hours of travel time per peak hour. This means that not only is traffic moving more efficiently, but people are spending less time sitting in their cars. The result was a more fluid, less congested city, even in the midst of major construction projects.

Traffic Flow Management on National Highway 2

National Highway 2 in Taiwan is a major transportation route that runs through Taoyuan City and New Taipei City, which have a combined population of over 6 million. Efficient management of traffic flow on this transportation network is critical, especially during peak hours. To combat congestion on this highway, planners at Sinotech Engineering used PTV Vissim to evaluate different traffic control strategies.

One of the strategies studied was ramp metering, which controls the speed at which vehicles enter the highway. The goal is to prevent bottlenecks by distributing the flow of vehicles more evenly. PTV Vissim simulations allowed planners to test both independent ramp metering – where each ramp is controlled separately – and integrated ramp metering, where multiple ramps are coordinated to balance traffic across the region.

The integrated approach proved to be far more effective, significantly reducing delays and ensuring smoother traffic flow. But the study didn’t stop there. Using ENVIVER Pro, an advanced Vissim add-on, the team was able to calculate carbon emissions for each scenario. This allowed them to assess the environmental impact of different traffic strategies, ensuring that the best plan was not only efficient, but also sustainable.

In addition to reducing congestion, the ramp metering and regional coordination strategies contributed to fewer accidents, making the highway safer for all drivers. This case study illustrates how PTV Vissim simulations allow planners to fine-tune transportation systems in a way that balances efficiency with environmental responsibility, ensuring long-term benefits for the city.

A Smarter, Smoother Future with Simulation Technology

These case studies illustrate how advanced tools, like those offered by PTV, are transforming transportation planning. By addressing challenges such as managing pedestrian flows during construction, optimizing train schedules, and dynamically adjusting traffic signals with AI, these solutions are contributing to safer, more efficient, and economically sustainable urban environments.

Through simulation platforms such as PTV Vissim and Viswalk, planners can model various scenarios in a virtual environment, minimizing risks and enabling informed decision-making. Whether tackling crowd management at busy stations or mitigating traffic congestion on major highways, these technologies are shaping smarter, smoother transportation systems for cities worldwide.