Course Overview
How the course is structured and what it prepares you to do.
Course overview
This 12-week course combines lecture-based instruction with hands-on workflows to build professional competency in transportation planning. Weekly modules introduce key capabilities: traffic simulation fundamentals, network modeling (GIS/OpenStreetMap), demand calibration, signal planning, mixed traffic scenarios (autonomous vehicles), environmental analysis (emissions and electric vehicles), intelligent transportation systems, and 3D visualization. Following UDL principles, content is delivered through multiple formats including lecture slides, hands-on slides, and video demonstrations, all accessible through the course website for self-paced learning. Weekly hands-on sessions build progressively from foundational skills to advanced applications, with each producing concrete deliverables. The course has a design project where students conduct a traffic impact study on a real intersection and conduct alternatives analysis with traffic simulation, 3D visualization, and professional deliverables (technical report and presentation). Students receive support through flexible office hours and an online peer learning community.
Course Evaluation
Watch time: 578 hours
Repo: SUMO Traffic Simulator Tutorial
Course Outline
What you’ll learn and how you’ll be evaluated.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Develop foundational knowledge in transportation planning
- Build and calibrate traffic simulation models using professional open-source tools (SUMO, QGIS) alongside industry-standard methods
- Analyze transportation scenarios including signal timing, mixed traffic (AVs/manual vehicles), and environmental impacts
- Evaluate planning alternatives using performance metrics (delay, emissions, level of service)
- Communicate technical findings to diverse audiences through reports, visualizations, and presentations
- Apply conceptual understanding to diagnose model issues and justify calibration decisions
- Integrate emerging technologies (AI, 3D visualization) into transportation planning workflows
Assessment (example)
- In-class Deliverables (15%)
- Transportation News Brief (each student presents once) (10%)
- Final Project (35%)
- Assignments (10%)
- Midterm Examination (25%)
- Participation (5%)
Topics
This 12-week course is organized around weekly lecture concepts and hands-on labs. Each week includes up to two video tutorials.
| Week | Topic (Lecture + Hands-on) | Materials |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Introduction to Traffic Simulation
Lecture: What is Traffic Simulation?; The Purpose of traffic simulation; Examples of Traffic Simulation Studies; Course Description
Hands-on: Install Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO); Set Up SUMO Environment Variables; Install Notepad++; SUMO Files and User Interface; Create a Simple Network with Car Traffic Demand; Add Opposite Traffic Flow
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| 2 |
Fundamentals of Traffic Simulation
Lecture: Road Network Development; Vehicles Characteristics; Vehicle Dynamics; Car Following and Lane Changing Models; Traffic Theory; Fundamental Diagram (Flow, Density, Speed)
Hands-on: Road Network Development in Traffic Simulation; Car Following and Lane Changing Models in Traffic Simulation
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| 3 |
Network Modelling with GIS
Lecture: Introduction to GIS; GIS in Planning Applications; Relationship between GIS and Simulation; What Network Details Matter
Hands-on: Geographic Information System (GIS); GIS Software; Download and Installing QGIS Software - Open Source and Free; Map Services; Imagery Map and Georeferencing; Create a Road Network on Top of GIS; Import a Road Network from OpenStreetMap into SUMO
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| 4 |
Traffic Signal Planning in Simulation
Lecture: Signalized and Unsignalized Intersections; Introduction to Traffic Signal Planning; Traffic Signal Planning Case Studies; Signal Elements (phases, cycle, lost time); Fixed-time vs. Actuated; Ring-barrier (conceptual); Basic Signal Optimization Concepts
Hands-on: Intersection - Unsignalized; Intersection - Signalized
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| 5 |
Demand Modelling and Route Assignment
Lecture: Elements of Demand Modelling and Route Assignment; Traffic Movement Calibration; Traffic Volume Calibration; Traffic Speed Calibration
Hands-on: Implementation of Traffic Movement/Volume Speed Calibration in Simulation
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| 6 |
Mixed Traffic Planning: Autonomous and Human-Driven Vehicles
Lecture: Fundamentals of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs); Automation Levels; Simulation Tools for CAVs; Impact of Mixed Traffic Planning
Hands-on: Develop Mixed Traffic Planning for AVs and Human-Driven Vehicles in Simulation; Analyze Impacts of Different AV Penetration Rates on Traffic Performance
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| 7 |
Environmental Analysis (Energy, Emissions, Electric Vehicles)
Lecture: Fundamental of Energy and Emission (Combustion Engine Vehicle and Electric Vehicles); Energy and Emission Definition and Impact of Different Vehicle Types; Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle and Electric Vehicle; SUMO Vehicle Supports; Energy Consumption and Emission Models
Hands-on: Energy Consumption and Emission Model (HBEFA Model); Emission Models in Simulation; Environmental Analysis in Simulation; Develop Mixed Traffic Planning Strategies of EVs and ICE in Simulation; Analyze Environmental Impacts of Different Scenarios
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| 8 |
Midterm (Paper-Based): Model Reasoning
In-class assessment (no computer): Students interpret printed outputs (traffic counts, speeds, travel times, queue plots, SUMO snapshots, signal timing diagrams, network diagrams, emission reports, AV penetration scenarios) and:
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N/A (paper-based)
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| 9 |
Artificial Intelligence in Intelligent Transportation Systems
Lecture: Reviewing Intelligent Transportation Systems case studies and explain concept of ITS; three phases of detection; algorithms and decisions in ITS; explain application of artificial intelligence in ITS
Hands-on: Fundamental of machine learning algorithms; fundamental of reinforcement learning algorithms; implement an intelligent traffic signal; analyze the performance of an intelligent traffic signal
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| 10 |
3D Simulation in Planning I
Lecture: 3D Visualization in Planning; 3D Visualization Case Studies; 3D Simulation with Existing Game Engines; Unity Game Engine
Hands-on: Install Sumo2Unity Tool; Install Unity Game Engine; Visualize a Single Lane Road with one Unsignalized Intersection
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| 11 |
3D Simulation in Planning II
Lecture: Multi Lane Road with Signalized Intersection
Hands-on: Visualize Different Modes of Transportation (Bicycle, Scooters)
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| 12 |
Final Project Report and Presentation
Lecture: Writing A Final Project Report Including Analysis Results through Tables and Plots; Discuss Findings
Hands-on: Final Project Presentations
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Office Hours
Appointment by email or join the community Discord group.
Tip: include your full name, course code (RWR4015), and a 1–2 sentence summary of your question.
Optional Course Materials
Recommended references for microsimulation modelling guidance (FHWA).
- Federal Highway Administration. (2019). Traffic analysis toolbox volume III: Guidelines for applying traffic microsimulation modeling software (2019 update to the 2004 version). U.S. Department of Transportation. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/43570
- Dowling, R., Skabardonis, A., & Alexiadis, V. (2004). Traffic analysis toolbox volume III: Guidelines for applying traffic microsimulation modeling software (Publication No. FHWA-HRT-04-040). Federal Highway Administration. https://highways.dot.gov/media/6916
Course Website
Access the latest course page, updates, and public materials here:
Course Description (PDF)
Download the official course description document.
Resources
Software
- Traffic simulation software (microsimulation)
- GIS tools for network building (QGIS / OSM)
- Optional: game engine tools for 3D/VR visualization