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Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion
This study assesses the changes in travel time patterns on the N2 highway in Cape Town, South Africa. A microsimulation model is developed to analyse average travel times and speeds along the specified route between 2005 and 2023. Historical data is incorporated into the PTV Vissim software, and pea...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English Eng |
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Department of Civil Engineering
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613217873723392 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Zhou, Mpumelelo |
| author2 | Vanderschuren, Marianne |
| author_browse | Vanderschuren, Marianne Zhou, Mpumelelo |
| author_facet | Vanderschuren, Marianne Zhou, Mpumelelo |
| author_sort | Zhou, Mpumelelo |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| description | This study assesses the changes in travel time patterns on the N2 highway in Cape Town, South Africa. A microsimulation model is developed to analyse average travel times and speeds along the specified route between 2005 and 2023. Historical data is incorporated into the PTV Vissim software, and peak-hour traffic congestion and patterns are investigated. This thesis focuses on the influence of travel time on urban mobility and transport planning. The results reveal the need for innovative solutions to enhance traffic flows along the N2 highway corridor. The introduction provides an overview and sets the context of the study, stipulating the research objectives, scope, and relevance of the research. The methodology details the data collection procedure, model simulation layout, and the approach to assessing travel time patterns. The results section presents a detailed analysis of the PTV Vissim simulation, addressing traffic flow behaviour, peak flow congestion, and the efficiency of the road infrastructure. Research findings are summarised, focusing on areas that require improvements and the advantages of the proposed solutions. The study emphasises the need for innovative and sustainable traffic management strategies. Recommendations detail the requirement to implement enhanced traffic control systems, infrastructure upgrades, and interventions to improve urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion. Ramp metering is investigated as a sustainable approach intervention and the results are discussed. The model predicts that ramp metering techniques could improve highway flows reducing average delays by at least 8%. The model also predicts that congestion charging could improve traffic flows by at least 7%. The conclusion highlights the significance of addressing travel time to create a sustainable and effective transportation network in Cape Town. Future research proposals are suggested, emphasising the necessity for continuous traffic monitoring and adaptive systems to cope with changing traffic patterns. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of stakeholder engagement in developing and implementing traffic management solutions. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, urban planners, and the community are essential for the success of the proposed interventions. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42459 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English Eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:38.580Z |
| license_str | Creative Commons |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Department of Civil Engineering |
| publisherStr | Department of Civil Engineering |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42459 Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion Zhou, Mpumelelo Vanderschuren, Marianne Engineering This study assesses the changes in travel time patterns on the N2 highway in Cape Town, South Africa. A microsimulation model is developed to analyse average travel times and speeds along the specified route between 2005 and 2023. Historical data is incorporated into the PTV Vissim software, and peak-hour traffic congestion and patterns are investigated. This thesis focuses on the influence of travel time on urban mobility and transport planning. The results reveal the need for innovative solutions to enhance traffic flows along the N2 highway corridor. The introduction provides an overview and sets the context of the study, stipulating the research objectives, scope, and relevance of the research. The methodology details the data collection procedure, model simulation layout, and the approach to assessing travel time patterns. The results section presents a detailed analysis of the PTV Vissim simulation, addressing traffic flow behaviour, peak flow congestion, and the efficiency of the road infrastructure. Research findings are summarised, focusing on areas that require improvements and the advantages of the proposed solutions. The study emphasises the need for innovative and sustainable traffic management strategies. Recommendations detail the requirement to implement enhanced traffic control systems, infrastructure upgrades, and interventions to improve urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion. Ramp metering is investigated as a sustainable approach intervention and the results are discussed. The model predicts that ramp metering techniques could improve highway flows reducing average delays by at least 8%. The model also predicts that congestion charging could improve traffic flows by at least 7%. The conclusion highlights the significance of addressing travel time to create a sustainable and effective transportation network in Cape Town. Future research proposals are suggested, emphasising the necessity for continuous traffic monitoring and adaptive systems to cope with changing traffic patterns. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of stakeholder engagement in developing and implementing traffic management solutions. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, urban planners, and the community are essential for the success of the proposed interventions. 2025-12-19T08:31:27Z 2025-12-19T08:31:27Z 2025 2025-12-19T08:28:54Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42459 en Eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ application/pdf Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment |
| spellingShingle | Engineering Zhou, Mpumelelo Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion |
| title_full | Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion |
| title_fullStr | Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion |
| title_short | Impact assessment through microscopic simulation: a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion |
| title_sort | impact assessment through microscopic simulation a sustainable approach to improving traffic congestion |
| topic | Engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42459 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhoumpumelelo impactassessmentthroughmicroscopicsimulationasustainableapproachtoimprovingtrafficcongestion |