"qsim". Status: works but is not very transparent

If you do not put a "qsim" section into the config file, the system will use the default "simulation" (look there).

"qsim" is what we use for new features such as public transit or signalsystems.  "New features" implies "unstable".  Use only if you have to.

Also see www.matsim.org/javadoc/org/matsim/ptproject/qsim/package-summary.html

Some calibration hints, especially when the main mode is not "car"

The (exit) flow capacity of a link is:

capacity_value_of_link / capacity_period_of network * flow_capacity_factor

where

  • the capacity value of the link is given by the link entry in the network file
  • the capacity period of the network is given at the beginning of the "links" section in the network file.  Normally set to one hour
  • the flow capacity factor is given in the qsim config group

The storage capacity of a link is:

(length_of_link * number_of_lanes_of_link / effective_cell_size) * storage_capacity_factor

where

  • the length of the link is given by the link entry in the network file
  • the number of lanes of the link is given by the link entry in the network file
  • the effective cell size is given at the beginning of the "links" section in the network file.  Normally set to 7.5m
  • the storage capacity factor is given in the qsim config group
  • There is also an effective lane width, also at the beginning of the "links" section in the network file, normally set to 3.75m.  See below for its use.

This is most useful if you have something else than cars, for example pedestrians.  Let us assume an effective lane with of 0.4m and an effective cell size also of 0.4m.  This would lead to a maximum density of 0.4*0.4=0.16persons/m^2, not totally unrealistic.

If, now, a link has an area of 200m^2 and a length of 50m, then it would obtain

number_of_lanes = area / length / effective_lane_width = 200 / 50 / 0.4 = 10

Note that, in the end, the lane width is not used by the dynamics; all the meaning is subsumed in the number of lanes.  The storage capacity comes out as

storage_capacity = number_of_lanes * length / effective_cell_size

in the above example

= 10 * 50 / 0.4 = 1250 .

This is, naturally, the same as dividing the 200m^2 of the link by the 0.16persons/m^2.

The effective lane width might be used by the visualization (unclear if this is the case).