Civiltech has purchased Dynameq transportation simulation software, developed by INRO. With this purchase, Civiltech expands its capability to prepare traffic simulations to evaluate traffic operations. Civiltech also uses Emme, another INRO product, for travel demand forecasting. These two packages together provide Civiltech the ability to produce small area traffic simulations that are consistent with regional travel demand forecasts.

It is common practice that when preparing a traffic simulation an analyst will manually reassign traffic in response to network changes. A manual traffic assignment is required for each alternative tested. This method is time consuming and runs the risk of inconsistent assignments between alternatives. However, Dynameq´s built-in algorithms insure consistent assignments in the simulation of each alternative tested.

Further, Emme and Dynameq together will enhance Civiltech´s ability to assess the cumulative impacts of development on traffic operations. Typically, traffic impact studies examine the traffic impacts of a single proposed development. These studies do not account for the impacts of other developments outside the project area. By incorporating regional and local analyses, Civiltech will be able to assess the impacts of not just one proposed development but the cumulative impacts of all proposed developments in an area. This will provide local engineers and planners with better information on which to base roadway improvement decisions.

Dynameq may also be used to: develop maintenance of traffic plans; develop lane management strategies for different classes of vehicles, e.g., bus lanes; evaluate signal control plans; determine the impacts of bridge or lane closures; and, prepare emergency response plans.

Currently, Civiltech is using Emme and Dynameq in conjunction with our McHenry County modeling project. This project involves the development of a County-Wide traffic model (using Emme) and two subregional traffic model (using Dynameq). Given the on-going development in the County, Emme and Dynameq together are ideally suited for this type of project.

Dynameq provides Civiltech engineers and planners the ability to accurately analyze more data in less time. Because projects will progress more efficiently, less time will be needed to complete a transportation simulation project than before, with the time and cost savings being passed along to the client.