Transport Modelling
Peter Davidson Consultancy Ltd (PDC) build and use transport models for clients and have a 24-year sound track record for delivering all types of transport models ranging from the very simple single-mode corridor models, through the hierarchical choice models needed for DfT WebTag multi-mode appraisal, to the innovative activity based transport models emerging as the new paradigm. We are at the forefront in transport modelling encompassing the development of innovative techniques such as activity based models, discrete choice models, stated/ revealed preference models and incorporating travel behaviour. Peter is a leading international authority on transport modelling and has been responsible for major innovation in modelling techniques including park and ride assignment, matrix building, matrix estimation, stated preference and disaggregate modelling. PDC has developed leading-edge Visual-tm (Visual Transport Modeller) software for transport modelling which we use on projects and market internationally. The consultancy has undertaken over 100 modelling projects so far and is well known in the field as a consultancy to be watched!
We are specialist at building DfT guidance (WebTag) compliant multi-mode models. These may be used as a general transport planning-tool for a County, Region or Urban area, to support transport policy and strategy decision-making, to aid development control, to help make the case for infrastructure, to support a Local Transport Plan or Local Development Framework, or to support Major Scheme Business Case bids for DfT funding. These models are more complex that normal 4-stage models and typically involve nesting choice models into a choice hierarchy with connections to ensure that the complete hierarchy of choices act in behaviourally the correct way. The requirement to support multi-mode appraisal with TUBA adds further rigour to the models.
We also have a robust reputation for building very large models for clients, including large regional highway models where we developed new techniques for building complex origin-destination matrices which are now recommended by DfT and embodied in the industry-standard matrix building ERICA software which we wrote for DfT. We have built two very large regional traffic models for the Highways Agency covering the east (ERTM) and southeast regions (SERTM), linked together to produce an inter-regional traffic model for the whole of the southeast.
We develop public transportation models for clients to forecast the ridership and revenue of a transportation system, undertake economic appraisal (e.g. TUBA, COBA), prepare a business case so as to support a bid for franchise or a bid for funding. Our models can also be used to refine its design, optimise its operation, investigate its future target markets and assess its popularity. They support revenue and funding decisions for private clients such as Merseytram, GNER, Eurotunnel, and for Major Scheme Bid submissions such as Gloucester and Ashford.
Examples of other modelling projects include PRISM, Eurotunnel; a Regional Spatial Strategy model for Gloucestershire; a stated preference disaggregate model for Scottish Air Travel. Rail/LRT models for GNER, Liverpool LRT, South Hampshire LRT, County Models for Cheshire, Gloucestershire; Major Scheme Business Case for Ashford BRT, Truro and Gloucester P&R and models for PPP in Nigeria and Morocco. We were responsible for the Transport model for Scotland demand model development.