Kuwait 2040 Master Plan
The 4th Kuwait master plan will guide the physical development of the country through a vision for it's environment, planning principles, planning strategies and key projects for implementation. The plan will operate at a range of scales (national, regional, metropolitan and municipal) with a fundamental focus on transport systems to promote productivity and sustainability. An emphasis on the utilisation of public transport schemes, and a reduction in road traffic growth is a common theme for all future scenarios.
Leading the transport team, we enabled an existing national model (Visum) to be updated to the present year, using new traffic count and journey time data, plus a significant Big Data exercise to use mobile phone data to inform new origin-destination matrices. The forecast year model will incorporate the latest planned schemes and demographic estimates, plus options for appraisal as part of the masterplanning work.
Brent Cross South
For a 180-acre mixed-use neighbourhood at Brent Cross we joined a team as strategic transport experts to use the London Transportation Studies (LTS) model to create new disaggregated demand for a range of development scenarios. We created a localised version of TfL's RAILPLAN model (Emme) to appraise public transport improvements and impacts. The new neighbourhood will provide 6,700 new homes, employment and pedestrian-friendly streets. The development will be a model for how London should grow as its population increases and new homes and workspaces are required.
King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport
Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia with a rapidly rising population of over 6 million and almost complete reliance on car transport. We lead the planning of new BRT and bus services (community bus routes, plus a series of feeder buses, using both fixed routes and on-demand services) to complement the strategic, high capacity Metro and extend the accessibility of the public transport system in a city with very high temperatures during summer, and a car dependant culture.
An existing Emme model was thoroughly overhauled with a new public transport network, updates to the highway network, and new demand matrices derived from newly collected mobile phone data, land use GIS data and planning forecasts. Model outputs are being used for development of service frequencies and timetables, to create an appropriate mix of bus vehicle types for vehicle orders, and ensure that network capacity matched anticipated passenger loadings.
Transportation Masterplan for Qatar
The Ministry of Transport and Communications in Qatar wish to build an activity based model (ABM) to inform an update of the Qatar Transport Masterplan - looking beyond the 2022 World Cup tournament. We provided modelling advice for Package 1 of this project - the collection of transport and model data. This comprehensive data collection exercise has to gather reliable and extensive data that can be used for an activity-based approach to model travel.
We then worked with the PM consultants reviewing the work of modelling consultants that are implementing the ABM into a VISUM highway and PT network. This model must create a realistic view of the comprehensive travel costs of all modes and will form part of an iterative process with the ABM components. The model will build on previous strategic transport models that have been designed for the State of Qatar, however as the first ABM to be developed in the region it will present its own unique set of challenges.
Building travel matrices from mobile phone data
Working with a UK mobile phone operator, we built OD matrices using mobile phone data, supplemented by traditional transport modelling approaches. Advised on strategic modelling considerations, the shortcomings of existing data collection techniques, and suitable data to use to supplement and calibrate the mobile phone data. This large dataset required SQL Server to provide robust travel demand matrices, segmented by purpose and demographics; with an extremely high sample rate of the UK adult population.
Model and data audit - Lower Thames crossing
Helped to develop a modelling framework, to be used to inform the economic, environmental and operational appraisal of proposed options for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) in Kent/Essex. Analysis of existing data, including mobile phone data, to be used for the construction of demand matrices, both for base and forecasting years.
Transport Master Plan - Republic of Iraq
Development of VISUM multimodal model of entire country to provide a structured platform for decision makers to prepare long term policies and transport strategies. Requires innovative solutions to overcome the lack of data, and difficulties of collecting accurate, reliable up to date data that would reflect true base year demand in normal conditions.
High Speed 2 - Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester
We were the modelling experts for the HS2 rail scheme in the UK as the business case model was developed. The project used a highly complex model framework (based upon the DfT's PLANET models using Emme software) developed within relatively short timeframes, to provide a business case for a new high-speed rail line between London, Birmingham, Manchester, and to Leeds via the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. We created business cases for a number of rounds of parliamentary scrutiny and public consultation. Many different operational scenarios were considered for both HS2 itself, and 'classic' rail services such as WCML and ECML. We also considered, and developed business cases for alternatives to HS2.
We worked with LENNON data to re-examine the extent of business travel on UK long distance rail and the contribution this made to scheme benefits. Validated new base year matrices, to be used as a basis for forecasting.I also enhanced model functionality. In particular, ensured the interaction between long distance and local train passengers was modelled effectively, and benefits to users of 'classic' rail services were fully captured once HS2 is introduced. We also designed and coded train reliability into the assignment model and business case.
Thames Gateway South Essex Transportation Model (Mouchel Parkman for Essex County Council, December 2005 to April 2010)
Project Managers for a series of models of the Thames Gateway region in the South of Essex with a project value of over £1m including data collection. This area is a national priority for regeneration and growth over the next fifteen years, including an extra 55,000 jobs and 37,000 dwellings. The provision of high quality and reliable transport networks is fundamental to the successful delivery of these objectives. A tiered model structure was developed to look at future land-use scenarios and how these will influence future travel patterns, identify the transport schemes with the greatest benefits, to build an appropriate case for central Government funding. A strategic land use /transport interaction model (DELTA & STM) supplemented a multi modal assignment model in OmniTrans. Further operational models of specific proposals were developed in SATURN and used for CIF bids to attract DfT funding for quickly implemented schemes.
An major data collection programme was completed under our supervision, and the base year model was calibrated to DMRB/WebTag standards. The OmniTrans model was used for the Major Scheme Business Case (MSBC) of a number of specific schemes, such as South Essex Rapid Transit, and A13 Sadlers Farm Junction Improvements.