Website www.sidrasolutions.com | ||
Developer(s) Akcelik and Associates Pty Ltd (trading as Sidra Solutions) Stable release Sidra Intersection 7 / 2016 Operating system Type Micro-analytical traffic evaluation tool for intersection and network design, operations and planning | ||
Sidra Intersection (previously called Sidra and aaSidra) is a software package used for intersection (junction) and network capacity, level of service and performance analysis by traffic design, operations and planning professionals. First released in 1984, it has been under continuous development in response to user feedback. A new major version with network modelling capability and new vehicle movement classes was released in April 2013. The latest Version 7 includes new timing analysis methods for Common Control Groups (multiple intersections operating under one signal controller) and Network Cycle Time and Signal Offset calculations for signal coordination.
Contents
- Lane based intersection and network analysis method
- Network model
- Performance measures
- Roundabouts
- Model calibration
- Emissions and energy
- Highway Capacity Manual
- Scientific foundation and awards
- References
Sidra Intersection is a micro-analytical traffic evaluation tool that employs lane-by-lane and vehicle drive cycle models. It can be used to compare alternative treatments of individual intersections and networks of intersections involving signalised intersections (fixed-time/pretimed and actuated), roundabouts (unsignalised), roundabouts with metering signals, fully signalised roundabouts, two-way stop and give-way (yield) sign control, all-way (4-way and 3-way) stop sign control, merging, single-point urban interchanges, traditional diamond and diverging diamond interchanges, basic freeway segments, signalised and unsignalised midblock crossings for pedestrians, merging analysis and network modelling of these intersection and interchange types.
Sidra Intersection allows modelling of separate Movement Classes (Light Vehicles, Heavy Vehicles, Buses, Bicycles, Large Trucks, Light Rail/Trams and six User Classes) with different vehicle characteristics. These movements can be allocated to different lanes, lane segments and signal phases; for example for modelling bus priority lanes and signals.
In Australia and New Zealand, Sidra Intersection is endorsed by Austroads. In the USA, Sidra Intersection is recognised by the US Highway Capacity Manual,TRB/FHWA 2010 Roundabout Guide (NCHRP Report 672) and various roundabout guides.
Lane-based intersection and network analysis method
The lane-by-lane capacity and performance analysis method used by Sidra Intersection helps to identify any de facto exclusive lanes, unequal lane utilisation, modelling of short lanes (turn bays, lanes with parking upstream, and loss of a lane at the exit side) and lane blockage in shared lanes including lanes containing opposed (permitted) turns, slip (bypass) lane movements and turns on red. Intersections and networks can be modelled in detail using this method with advantages over approach-based and lane group-based methods.
Network model
SIDRA NETWORK model provides a lane-based congestion modelling tool. It determines the backward spread of congestion as queues on downstream lanes block upstream lanes, and applies capacity constraint to oversaturated upstream lanes; thus limiting the flows entering downstream lanes. These two elements are highly interactive with opposite effects. A network-wide iterative process is used to find a solution that balances these opposite effects. The lane-based network model provides information about departure and arrival patterns, queue lengths, lane blockage probabilities, backward spread of queues, and so on at a lane level. The model allows for the effect of upstream lane use patterns on downstream signal platoon patterns, in turn affecting the estimates of network performance measures (travel time, delay, back of queue, stop rate). This is important especially in evaluating closely spaced (paired) intersections and interchanges with high demand flows where vehicles have limited opportunities for lane changing between intersections. Such facilities include staggered T intersections, freeway signalised diamond interchanges, freeway roundabout interchanges, fully signalised roundabouts (including signalised circulating roads), large signalised intersections with wide median storage areas, staged crossings at sign-controlled intersections, intersections with nearby pedestrian crossings, and alternative intersection and interchange configurations such as diverging diamond interchanges (signalised), continuous flow intersections, restricted cross street U turns, and so on. The modelling of arrival patterns at downstream approach lanes takes into account implied midblock lane changes. Different movement classes (light and heavy vehicles, buses, large trucks, bicycles, and so on) are treated individually in modelling platoon arrival and departure patterns.
Performance measures
Sidra Intersection provides a large number of intersection and network performance measures and a number of alternative Level of Service (LOS) methods and LOS Target settings to determine acceptable intersection and network design. Standard performance measures such as delay, queue length and number of stops as well as measures to help with environmental impacts and economic analysis are provided. Performance and Level of Service results are given at various aggregation levels (individual lanes, individual movements, approaches, intersections, routes and networks) and separately for vehicles, pedestrians, and persons (results for pedestrians and people in vehicles combined).
Roundabouts
Sidra Intersection allows analysis of single-lane and multi-lane roundabouts. It employs a combined (hybrid) geometry and gap-acceptance modelling approach in order to take into account the effect of roundabout geometry on driver behaviour directly through gap-acceptance modelling. Sidra Intersection software includes templates for roundabouts including all roundabout examples given in MUTCD 2009 and TRB/FHWA 2010 Roundabout Informational Guide (NCHRP Report 672). A Roundabout Metering analysis method allows the evaluation of the effect of metering signals on roundabout capacity and performance. Metering signals help to solve the problem of excessive queuing and delays at approaches affected by unbalanced traffic streams at roundabouts. Fully signalised roundabouts can be modelled as a network. A recent NCHRP survey of US state transport agencies found that Sidra Intersection is the most widely used software tool in the USA for roundabout analysis.
Model calibration
Sidra Intersection provides facilities to calibrate its traffic models for local conditions. It provides software setups with appropriate default systems for different countries, allows the users to prepare customised software setups, provides a sensitivity analysis facility to allow testing of the effect of variations in values of various key parameters, and describes various calibration techniques (including survey methods) in the User Guide. In particular, the US HCM (Customary and Metric) software setups of SIDRA INTERSECTION are calibrated using model parameters based on the US Highway Capacity Manual (see the section titled Highway Capacity Manual). Among many model parameters, the saturation flow parameter for signalized intersections and the critical gap and follow-up headway parameters for unsignalised roundabouts and sign-controlled intersections are identified as key parameters for calibration to match real-life traffic conditions. At the same time, the queue space (jam spacing) parameter used in back of queue modelling is identified as a key parameter in general due to its role in approach short lane modelling for intersections and lane blockage (queue spillback) modelling for networks.
Emissions and energy
Sidra Intersection estimates the cost, energy and air pollution implications of intersection design using a four-mode elemental model with detailed acceleration, deceleration, idling and cruise elements. This drive-cycle (modal analysis) method coupled with a power-based vehicle model is used to estimate operating cost, fuel consumption, greenhouse gas (CO2) and pollutant (CO, NOx, HC) emissions in order to assess the environmental impacts of traffic congestion. The model includes estimates of acceleration and deceleration times and distances for light and heavy vehicles coupled with a polynomial model of acceleration-time profile. The vehicle parameters in the model have been updated recently for modern vehicle fleet.
Highway Capacity Manual
Sidra Intersection software complements Highway Capacity Manual (HCM Edition 6) as an advanced intersection analysis tool which offers various extensions on the capabilities of the HCM. The Highway Capacity Manual version of Sidra Intersection has options for US Customary and Metric units. The roundabout capacity model for single-lane and multi-lane roundabouts based on research on US roundabouts as described in HCM Edition 6, Chapter 22 is integrated into the software. The HCM Edition 6 roundabout capacity model is a lane-based model which is suitable for the extensions implemented in Sidra Intersection.
Scientific foundation and awards
Sidra Intersection was first developed over 20 years at the Australian Road Research Board (1979–1999) as a technology transfer tool to enable practitioners to use major research results without delay, and then at Akcelik and Associates since 2000. Akcelik and Associates conducts its own research s well as using the latest research results which become available internationally including the Highway Capacity Manual. Thus Sidra Intersection includes high technical content based on extensive scientific research. A formal "effectiveness audit" of related research carried out by an independent panel formed by the Australian Road Research Board in 1993 noted "the panel rated the technical merit of the research as very high and concluded that it has established international and professional reputations in the fields of traffic signal analysis, roundabout analysis, and energy and emissions modelling".
The company has won awards including the 2010 Telstra Business Awards - AMP Innovation Award and the 2009 the Governor of Victoria Export Awards - Winner Small Business Award. The awards received by the founder of the company, Dr Rahmi Akcelik, includes the prestigious 1999 Clunies Ross National Science and Technology award for outstanding contribution to the application of science and technology in Australia, and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (USA) 1986 Transportation Energy Conservation Award in Memory of Frederick A. Wagner for research into energy savings from urban traffic management (received as part of the energy research team at the Australian Road Research Board).