Simulation of passenger trips emitted and attracted by zones for an urban transportation planning study

Abstract

“Simulation of passenger trips omitted and attracted by zones for an urban transportation planning study” is the title of this thesis. In a convergent approach, with this title turned bottom up, the author develops this thesis viewing first of all the panorama of urban transportation studies. But what is urban transportation and then transportation studies for what purpose(s)? The first question is one that needs a definition. A new comer to the field of transportation studies might find the definition given in here a useful one. The revelations or results of transportation studies provide a necessary base for planning a transportation system. For this reason the subject of transportation planning must be given space in this work. Yet, of paramount importance in transportation planning is the knowledge of traffic flows-passenger traffic flow in the case of an urban public bus transportation system. Thus, attention must be focused on what actually is involved in studies of traffic flows. Several methods that have been used elsewhere to study traffic flows are reviewed here. Another theory or analytical method is contributed which can be useful in the study of traffic flows. This method uses a simulation approach, and ultimately trips omitted and attracted by zones are predicted. In this work it has been used in conjuction with a survey of traffic in Dar es Salaam. The results of this work could be input to subsequent phases of transportation studies and to the planning process. But as this research is not a complete planning exercise, the scope of this thesis winds up with publishing the zonal “trip ends” thus determined, together with the computer program system used in the course of such analysis.