8.4.2 Phases

The Phases tab shows a grid of each Phase for the current controller stream. By default the controller stream will be populated with two phases - A and B. To add more phases right-click on a row-header (the grey area on the left of any row) of either of the phases. The pop-up menu offers the options to either delete the phase you are on, add a copy of it, or add a new phase.

You can change the phase properties, such as minimum green time, maximum green time, relative start displacement, relative end displacement, by clicking on individual grid items.

For convenience two buttons are provided - If you click on "Create New Phases..." you will be asked to enter the number of phases you want and TRANSYT will remove all existing phases and add the number you asked for. After setting the number of phases you will often want to set up the conflicts between phases. The "Intergreen Matrix" conveniently opens the intergreen matrix screen for you.

Stage Library

The Stage Library tab shows a grid of each library stage for the current controller stream. By default the controller stream will be populated with two library stages - Stage 1 and Stage 2. By default the stages, will be 'all-red' i.e. no phases are running in them. To add more stages right-click on a row-header (the grey area on the left of any row) of either of the stages. The pop-up menu offers the option to either delete the stage you are on, add a copy of it, or add a new stage.

To define which phases run in each stage, click on the "Phases In Stages" grid cells and enter a comma-separated list of phases. N.B. you can add phases that currently do not exist, but in order to run TRANSYT you will also need, at some point, to create these phases.

An addition three buttons are also provided, in order to make it quick and easy to set up your stage data for the currently selected controller stream. The "Auto Generate Library Stages" button will automatically create in the "Stage Library" a collection of all possible stages - a stage for each valid combination of all the phases that can run together ( Outline: Controller Stream n>Stage Library). E.g. if you have four phases defined, where phase A and C conflict and B and D conflict (as defined by your intergreen matrix), the stage library generated for you will contain two stages - a stage 1 (phases A and C running) and a stage 2 (phase B and D running).

The second button, "Create New Stages..." allows you to quickly add as many library stages as you like. Click on the button, enter the number of stages you wish to add, and then confirm whether or not you wish to add them to the existing library stages or to replace them all. If you, for example, use the button to ADD two more stages, TRANSYT would add the Library Stages 3 and 4, both of which will have no phases running in them.

The third button, "Interstages." opens the interstage tab of the Intergreen Matrix screen, to let you see the derived interstages.

(Phase) Delays

The Phase Delays tab shows a grid of phase delays for the current controller stream. By default the grid is empty. To add the first phase delay, click the button "Create New Delays and enter the number you want. Once you have created at least one phase delay you can add, delete or copy them by right-clicking on a row-header (the grey area on the left of any row) of any of the phase delays, or use the button which gives the option of either replacing all the existing delays or adding to them.

Having added a phase delay you need to specify whether or not it is a "losing" or "gaining" delay. A gaining delay is one which delays the start of the phase relative the start of the stage, while a losing delay is one which extends how long the phase runs after the end of the stage.

A phase gaining delay value (in seconds) can either be set to be an "absolute delay", which is set relative to the end of the previous stage or as a "relative" delay which is set relative to where it would have started if the phase did not exist, i.e. as soon as possible after all intergreens have been satisfied.

N.B. Phase delays can also be created and deleted directly on the timings diagram. See chapter 12.

Stage Sequences

The Stage Sequences tab shows a grid of all the stage sequences associated with the current controller stream. By default Stage Sequence 1 will already exist, which runs stages 1 and 2. By default, this is also the currently selected sequence which the controller stream will be set to run - indicated by an asterisk in the Timings diagram and the Data Outline. Change the "Use Sequence" value to change which sequence TRANSYT will use.

To add more sequences right-click on a row-header (the grey area on the left of any row) of either of the stages. The pop-up menu offers the option to either delete, copy or add a new sequence.

To define which stages run in each sequence, click on the "Stage IDs" grid cells and enter a comma-separated list of stages in the order in which you wish them to run. N.B. you can add stages that currently do not exist - TRANSYT will automatically add them to your Stage Library. Note however that, you will need to re-visit the new stages to define which phases run in them - by default they will be blank - i.e. "all red" stages.

An addition three buttons are also provided, in order to make it quick and easy to set up your sequences. The "Auto Generate Sequences" button will automatically create the 10 simplest Stage Sequences possible (given the already defined stages and conflicting and non-conflicting phases ). If none of these are what you wish to use, you can simply edit the one closest to your requirements and reset the controller data to use that sequence.

The other two buttons "Timings Diagram" and "Stage Sequence Diagram" are simply short­cuts to open the Timings Diagram and Stage Sequence Diagram respectively.

Multiple-cycling choices can also be set from this screen.

Resultant (Stages and Green periods)

This tab provides easy access to all the resultant stages and green period data which has been derived from the other data you have specified such as intergreens and stage definitions.

Stage start and end times can also be directly entered using this screen. The 'TRANSYT Stage' start times (as used in TRAnSyt 12 and earlier to define when the call for the next stage occurs) can also be edited.

How to use (Signals Data Screen)

Various screens are provided to allow signal data to entered, and subsequently edited. The Signals Data Screen is particularly useful for when you want to enter all the signal data for a controller stream from scratch, as it brings together in one screen all the facilities to set up your signal timings. As a result it may well become your preferred method of entering such data. It not the only way however - Details of the other signal data screens is detailed in chapter 12 - Working with Signals.

To make life easier when setting up standard junctions in a standard way, the following method is suggested.

This method primarily uses the Signals Data Screen (as well as the intergreen matrix and NetCon):

Create your new controller stream, if needed, either in NetCon or via the "Add a new Controller Stream" button on the data outline.

In Netcon associate the traffic streams with the new controller using the connector tool.

Open the Signals Data Screen and select the controller stream you wish to edit.

Select the Phases tab and click on "Create New Phases..." and specify the number of phases you need. Tip: If you are not sure how many you may need it is not a problem - you can add more or remove unused phases easily. Guessing high is marginally easier as unused ones can be easily ignored or deleted at the end.

Select the controller stream in NetCon. At this point the phases controlling each traffic stream will be displayed. By default they will all be set to Phase A. Simply right-click on each traffic stream or link to select the right phase.

Return to the Signals Data Screen and open the Intergreen Matrix screen by clicking the "intergreen matrix". Fill in the intergreens (first tab of the intergreen screen) in order to define which phases conflict with each other. You only need to add the intergreens for the phase transitions you wish to use, but entering them all is advisable if you are unsure of what your final stage sequence will be. ²

Next, you can add phase delays at this point by using the Delays tab, but this tab is best used in conjunction with the Timings Diagram, and you may often want to skip this stage until you have a valid stage sequence.

Select the Stage Sequences Tab and click "Auto Generate Stages". This will create up to 10 of the simplest (smallest number of stages) stage sequences possible. Open the Timings Diagram to see a graphical representation of each of them - Either click in the boxes to the left of the Controller Stream column or use the data outline to select each sequence.

Enter the sequence you wish to use in the "Use Sequence" box.

Now open the Task List to check that your network does not have any errors. As long as there are no errors you can now run your file with your chosen optimisation options set.

Links Data Screen

Although all Links data is available via the Data Outline and Data Editor, commonly needed data is also available via a Links Data Screen, which you can access via the button on the main vertical toolbar or the main View menu. The data on this screen works in exactly the same way as the Data Editor.

You can leave this screen visible and it will update and synchronise with other screens, as with any other window in TRANSYT. You can also lock the screen to a particular link.

Select the link to view using the list on the left hand side, or via the Data Outline, or via NetCon. You can also use this screen to add/delete links.

Each of the data grids in this screen (for flows, give-ways, etc.) works in exactly the same as any other Data Grid, including the ability to add/delete columns and rows.

See notes below for each tab.

The Modelling tab is split into two sub-tabs: The first allows weight and penalties, as well as queue limits and the new degree of saturation limits to be specified.

The second "traffic Modelling" tab allows maximum queue storage to be set as well as some "advanced" items such as dispersion type and queue and delay calculation parameters.

The Flows tab shows a grid of each Source for the current link. If the link is an entry link, then the grid will have only one row and will apply to the entry sources. Add new sources by right­clicking on the row header and selecting Add New Source. If the link is not an entry link (i.e. has at least one internal source being fed from another link), then the grid will show only the internal sources. In other words the grid will automatically show either entry sources OR internal sources, but not both together.

Because of the amount of give-way data and the hierarchy of movements and the conflicts associated with them, the give-way data is split between two tabs - "Give-way" and "Conflicts".

Movements, each of which may have their own set of conflicts, are set up via the main "Conflicts" tab.

The Flares tab allows access to the old-style (TRANSYT 13 or earlier) quick flares. To add a quick flare for the current link, right-click in a row-header (the grey area on the left of any row) and click on Add New Flare in the drop-down menu that appears.

We recommend that flares are specified using the new technique (i.e. using CPDM links) unless the intention is to use the Quick PDM traffic model which requires you to use Quick flares to model flares.

Shared links can be set up using the Shared-stoplines tab.

Results for each individual link can also be examined using the Results tab.

(Traffic) Streams Data Screen

Although all Traffic Streams data is available via the Data Outline and Data Editor, commonly needed data is also available via a Traffic Streams Data Screen, which you can access via the button on the main vertical toolbar or the main View menu.

The data on this screen works in exactly the same way as the Data Editor.

You can leave this screen visible and it will update and synchronise with other screens, as with any other window in TRANSYT. You can also lock the screen to a particular traffic stream.

Select the traffic stream to view using the list on the left hand side, or via the Data Outline, or via NetCon. You can also use this screen to add/delete traffic streams.

Each of the data grids in this screen (for sources, give-way conflicts, etc.) works in exactly the same as any other Data Grid, including the ability to add/delete columns and rows.

There are no particular differences between using this screen or the data editor to enter and edit traffic stream data, i.e. unlike the Signals Data screen there are no unique function buttons. However, you may find is easier to specify data using this screen, and in particular give-way data.

Because of the amount of give-way data and the hierarchy of movements and the conflicts associated with them, the give-way data is split between two tabs - "Give-way" and "Conflicts". Movements, each of which may have their own set of conflicts, are set up via the main "Conflicts" tab.

Please see the relevant sections of this user guide for details of the various data items.

Network Construction Editor (NetCon)

In TRANSYT you can show one or more NetCon windows, each of which shows a graphical representation of the current TRANSYT Network. It shows a depiction of all controller streams, traffic nodes, links, lanes and traffic streams, indicates their types and various other parameters, and can be overlaid with a wide variety of extra data, such as queue animations and CTM cell occupancy animations. Launch a new NetCon window by clicking the NetCon button on the main vertical toolbar.

NetCon can be used to build a network from scratch because it lets you add, delete and connect traffic nodes, links and other items.

The NetCon layout is saved automatically as part of the main data file - there is no need to manage separate files

Much of NetCon is self-explanatory and we recommend that you experiment with the various features in the toolbars and in the various context-specific menus available by right-clicking on each of the different items in the diagram.

In general, clicking on a controller stream, traffic node, arm, link, lane, traffic stream, source, OD Matrix or Location will make that item become the current Active Item, and any other windows will update to show data for that network item - e.g. the Timings Diagram, Data Editor, Stage Sequence screen, Data Grids, and so on. Double clicking on an item will often bring up an appropriate data entry screen.

The icons along the horizontal toolbar control the view of the network and turn on and off various overlay tools and other features. The icons in the vertical toolbar represent a set of tools which you can use to add and connect network items. The colours used for links correspond to the colours used in the 'toolbox' on the left hand side.

You can check what each icon does by hovering the mouse over the item and checking the status bar at the bottom of the NetCon screen.

Shared minor links are shown with dashed lines; bus and tram links are shown with dotted lines. Pedestrian links are shown with a large open arrow at one end (and optionally with reversed arrows at both ends). The blue cones around traffic nodes indicate which links are providing the traffic that travels through the traffic node. The green cones around controller streams indicate which links or TS it is controlling. Automatically, traffic nodes that are signalised have a solid outline, while unsignalled junctions have a dotted outline.

By default, each link or TS, also shows its total flow, and its degree of saturation (assuming that the file has been run at least once).

Speed of operation

NetCon should be highly responsive even with reasonably large networks. If you find that it is jerky, or takes a long time to update, you may need to update your graphics driver and/or graphics card. In some cases, changing (including reducing) the amount of hardware acceleration for your graphics driver may help. Contact your IT department for assistance if required.

There is also a 'safe mode' that turns off certain features; select this via the main menu File>Preferences.