Denali national park and preserve's transportation system: How a discrete event simulation model can enlighten complexity

摘要

Denali National Park and Preserve's (DNPP) Vehicle Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (VMP) limits road traffic to 160 vehicles permits per day. This is a tough constraint considering DNPP has 600,000 visitors per year and the park road is open about 110 days. DNPP is using analytics to study its transportation system to ensure visitor experiences are of high quality and park resources, including the historic and primitive character of the park road, remain protected under the new permit regulations. A discrete event simulation (DES) model was developed in ExtendSim to study all park traffic. The DES model arranges the complex behavior of DNPP's road user groups into a defined event sequence using both empirical data and institutional knowledge. The DES model tests traffic volume and schedule scenarios to maximize the visitor experience while still meeting all VMP compliance standards. The DES model is used to improve DNPP's ability to make science-based management decisions about its transportation system.