Simulating Pedestrians in Urban Environments with PTV Viswalk and PTV Vissim

Only a model including pedestrians is a complete traffic model.

  • Urban traffic is characterized by two peculiarities: it is multi-modal and usually it is strongly regulated with traffic signals being an important part of regulations.

Simulate complete streets with PTV Vissim and PTV Viswalk

  • Determined commuters, hurrying by-passers, pensive strollers, amazed tourists, striving shoppers and exercising runners all meet on limited urban space, not only among them, but also cyclists and motorized road traffic. Conflicts arise which are spotted much less often in planning projects if pedestrians are not included in traffic models. What is not being modelled remains invisible. What is invisible receives less attention. What receives no attention does not get discussed. What is not discussed fails. Having pedestrians included in the model means having pedestrians on the agenda.


    On the other hand there can be situations where issues have been spotted and the will to improve a city’s walkability is there. But then there are doubts and discussions if proposed changes might make the situation of motorists unbearable. In this case their situation is in the focus of simulation evaluation. 3d animations which follow project work almost as a by-product can proof very useful in public involvement.

    In Strasbourg pedestrian areas were enlarged at a central spot following a problem analysis in the field and by simulation. Using PTV Vissim and Viswalk it could be demonstrated that the reduced spaces for motorized traffic still suffice to accommodate demand.

Plan and optimize urban traffic signals for all road users

  • In cities various traffic modes do not only meet each other, but also infrastructure which moderates traffic. Most importantly – and even more most expensively – among the infrastructure are traffic lights. Use the full set of features PTV Vissim has to offer for planning,optimization, and verification to optimize signal controls also for pedestrians.

  • Traffic signals at a median tram stop: If the train they want to reach arrives some pedestrians don’t stop at a red light anymore.

With PTV Viswalk you can

    • … simulate pedestrians on the sidewalk along roads
    • … simulate pedestrians as prioritized road users and make cars stop for them
    • … let pedestrians cross roads at unregulated stretches of the road (sometimes called “j-walking”)
    • … test variants of signal controls, their effect on e.g. delay times of pedestrians as well as motorists
    • … make pedestrians wait at bus stops, have them board and alight from PT.
    • … simulate traffic calmed zones as well as shared space.
    • … measure travel and delay times
    • … measure densities and spot bottlenecks that might lead to congestions
    • … display level of services as heatmaps based on various properties (density, speed, etc.)
    • … evaluate many further properties
    • … produce animations to foster e.g. public involvement.