Actualisation Regional Traffic Model Rotterdam

Developed by: Goudappel Coffeng BV
Client: City of Rotterdam
Country: The Netherlands
Agent: Goudappel Coffeng
Project year: 2006-2008

In September 2006 the actualization of the Regional Traffic Model Rotterdam which dated from 1998 (RVMK) was completed. The model had 2004 as a base year, 2015 and 2020 as future modelling years, and a single 12-hour daytime period (7 AM till 7 PM). The lack of specific information on the traffic flows in the peak hour periods was severely limiting the application of the model. For this reason, a new initiative, RVMK2, was launched to update the traffic model to cover the whole 24 hour period including separate peak hours.

The effort was not limited to the creation of three separate time periods (morning peak, evening peak and the rest of the day), but also included a new zonal classification and major refinements to the road network within the municipality of Rotterdam. As a result of all these adaptation, an entirely new traffic model has arisen.

However, the most important modification with respect to the previous model is the way in which the distribution of the traffic takes place. In the new model, the traffic route choice is liable to congestion and delays in influence the distribution and the modal split of the traffic.

In nearly all urban/regional traffic models, the quantity displacements between areas are based on the socio-economic influence of the areas and the free flow travel time between them. In the new RVMK2-model, this process is based on congested travel times due to an iterative matrix estimation process. This way the delays between areas are not only of influence on the route choice but also on the number of car displacements between areas.

For more information, please contact Erik de Romph