VISSIM 5.30-05 User Manual

5.3 Vehicle Type, Class and Category
Vehicle
type
Vehicle
class
Vehicle
category
Vehicle Type, Class and Category
VISSIM uses a hierarchical concept to define and provide vehicle information
at different levels throughout the application. This table shows the individual
levels:
Group of vehicles with similar technical characteristics and physical driving
behavior. Typically the following are vehicle types: car, LGV, HGV (truck),
bus, articulated Bus, Tram, Bike, Pedestrian.
One or more vehicle types are combined in one vehicle class. Speeds,
evaluations, route choice behavior and certain other network elements refer
to vehicle classes. By default one vehicle class refers to one vehicle type
with the same name. More than one vehicle type is to be included in a
vehicle class if they incorporate a similar general driving behavior but have
different vehicle characteristics (e.g. acceleration values). If only the shape
and length of a vehicle is different they can be placed in the same type using
the vehicle model and color distributions.
► Example 1: The models “Car1” to “Car6” refer to different models with
different vehicle length yet similar driving behavior. Therefore they can
be placed into one vehicle type using a model distribution with the six
different models.
► Example 2: Standard and articulated buses only differ in length, thus they
can be placed into one type with a distribution of two models. Exception:
When these two bus types need to be used in different PT routes then
they need to be defined as two separate vehicle types.
Preset, static categories of vehicles that incorporate similar vehicle
interaction. For instance, the vehicle category “tram” does not allow for lane
changes on multi-lane links and does not oscillate around its desired speed.
Every vehicle type is to be assigned to a vehicle category.
5.3.1 Vehicle Types
In addition to the default vehicle types (Car, HGV, Bus, Tram, Bike and
Pedestrian), new vehicle types can be created. Existing types can be
modified. For vehicles of the same category having different e.g. acceleration
or speed properties, the appropriate number of vehicle types need to be
defined.
The data associated with vehicle types is accessed by BASE DATA – VEHICLE
TYPES...
Press one of the buttons EDIT, NEW or COPY or double-click the selected list
entry to open the Vehicle Type window. The following parameters are
available:
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