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PTV Vissim

Crowd and Traffic Simulation for Major Events and Venues

PTV Vissim enables planners and event organizers to analyze traffic flows, pedestrian dynamics and public transport operations for major events through microscopic traffic simulation. This provides measurable evidence to ensure safe, efficient and reliable mobility planning for venues and their surrounding transport networks. 

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From Sofa to Seat: End-to-End Event Mobility

From initial departure at home to arrival at the venue and post-event dispersal, event traffic is characterized by tightly coupled, time-dependent demand across modes and locations. PTV Vissim enables realistic simulation of these interconnected processes, across the entire journey, and both within and outside venues. 

 

Venue Design & Pedestrian Flow Simulation

The design of event venues must ensure safe and efficient pedestrian circulation, even under peak loads such as entry, intermissions, or post-event exit. Layout and processing capacity decisions directly impact both user experience and safety. 

Viswalk enables high-fidelity simulation of pedestrian dynamics within venues such as stadiums, arenas, or festival sites. Individual route choice, interactions, and responses to environmental factors such as signage are explicitly modeled. Queue formation at entrances, exits, and security checkpoints is analyzed under varying demand and operational conditions. 

Density, flow, and level-of-service metrics support the identification of bottlenecks and the optimization of layouts, gate configurations, and wayfinding strategies, ensuring robust performance under event-specific demand.

Multimodal System Analysis & Capacity Testing

Event traffic planning requires system-level coordination across all transport modes to prevent localized measures from creating network-wide inefficiencies. A fragmented approach often leads to bottlenecks at modal interfaces and reduced overall performance. 

PTV Vissim combined with Viswalk enables synchronized simulation of vehicular traffic, public transport, and pedestrian flows within a single model. Time-dependent demand profiles represent realistic arrival and departure waves, including modal split variations. Traffic management measures such as road closures, signal control strategies, and parking concepts can be evaluated alongside intermodal transfer processes and shared-space interactions. 

Key performance indicators such as delays, queue lengths, densities, and level of service enable capacity testing and scenario comparison, supporting the development of robust and efficient mobility concepts. 

Evacuation & Emergency Scenario Assessment

For large-scale events, safety compliance and risk mitigation are critical planning drivers. Authorities and organizers must demonstrate that evacuation concepts are robust under both expected peak conditions and unexpected disruptions. 

PTV Vissim and Viswalk enable dynamic simulation of emergency scenarios, including partial or full evacuations during peak ingress or egress. Time-dependent demand reflects realistic event surges, while pedestrian behavior under stress – such as adaptive route choice and high-density interactions – is explicitly modeled. Traffic impacts such as road closures, reduced capacities, and emergency vehicle routing are integrated into the simulation. 

Detailed KPIs including evacuation times, flow rates, and density thresholds provide a robust basis for validating safety concepts and optimizing emergency response strategies.

Public Transport Capacity & Operations Evaluation

During major events, operational reliability becomes the key challenge for public transport systems, as demand is highly concentrated in short time windows. Service disruptions or insufficient capacity can quickly propagate across the network. 

PTV Vissim enables detailed modeling of event-specific public transport operations, including schedules, dispatching logic, and interactions with general traffic. Time-dependent passenger arrivals capture typical pre- and post-event surges. In combination with Viswalk, passenger movements within stations near venues are simulated, including platform crowding, boarding processes, and their impact on dwell times. 

KPIs such as occupancy, headway adherence, delays, and throughput support the optimization of timetables, fleet sizing, and station layouts, ensuring reliable service under peak event conditions.  

Why Event Planners use PTV Vissim

Multimodal Event Simulation

Simulate traffic, pedestrians, and public transport in one modeling environment to identify bottlenecks and network impacts.

Quantify safety performance

Use density, flow rates, and travel time indicators to compare scenarios and ensure safety standards are being met.

Flexible Venue Modeling

Model complex event layouts and access points, including staircases, elevators, and security gates.

High Behavioral Realism

Capture detailed and realistic driver and pedestrian interactions using validated behavioral models.

Peak Demand Handling

Test extreme ingress and egress conditions at venues, stations, and parking areas.

Authority-defensible decisions

Deliver results and 3D visualizations that support stakeholder alignment regulatory approval.

Success Stories: Learn how our customers use PTV Vissim

Success story
Oxford FC stadium traffic simulation enhances safety and flow at major events.

Oxford FC’s new stadium project faced complex event traffic and crowd flows. With PTV Vissim, planners tested designs and improved safety.

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Success story
Stockholm improves stadium egress with crowd simulation

With PTV Viswalk, planners analyzed 45,000-person egress scenarios in Stockholm - reducing congestion and improving safety at peak demand.

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Success story
Tel Aviv Metro Lines improve station walkability and flow with simulation

In Tel Aviv, planners analyzed pedestrian flows at the Yoseftal Holon hub station with PTV Viswalk - improving usability and safety.

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