Simulation Analysis of a PRT System in a University Campus Setting

摘要

This paper describes a series of simulation studies that analyzed a personal rapid transit (PRT) system in a campus setting involving large pedestrian flows. The case studies analyzed hypothetical scenarios of a PRT system on a university campus and complimentary improvements within the university master plan. This paper describes the challenges of providing a suitable, cost effective level-of-service for the campus ridership demand patterns, which demonstrate high surge flow conditions between certain station pairs. Central to the methodology is the derivation of origin/destination trip tables representing the overall internal circulation patterns throughout a typical campus activity schedule, which was essential to the comprehensive analysis of a demand-responsive system. The analysis was primarily performed utilizing the Advanced Land-Transportation Performance Simulation (ALPSTM) software. Three cases studies were analyzed with the ALPS software based on the university class schedule and enrollment data forecasts. The paper provides a summary comparison of the case studies results, and provides conclusions on the suitability of PRT technology application for different types of urban district circulation service.