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Training

Workshops
Upcoming
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
Evaluation

Intersection Analysis Using SIDRA
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Workshops

Melbourne, Australia, 11-18 November 2008

Akcelik and Associates Pty Ltd will run the following SIDRA INTERSECTION training workshops in Melbourne, Australia:

• Two-day BEGINNER Workshop:
  Tuesday and Wednesday, 11-12 November 2008 
• Two-day INTERMEDIATE Workshop:  
  Thursday and Friday, 13-14 November 2008
• Two-day ADVANCED Workshop:
  Monday and Tuesday, 17-18 November 2008
   

Registration Form

Workshop Reference:  t1021

Discounts are available to SIDRA INTERSECTION users with valid COVER.

You can benefit from attending both the BEGINNER and INTERMEDIATE workshops, or both the  INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED workshops (discounts available).  Attending all three workshops is not recommended. 

The demand for SIDRA INTERSECTION training workshops is high.  Our policy is first-come first-served on the basis of payment of the registration fee.  If you are interested, we recommend that you register as soon as possible.

The Workshops

A good understanding of traffic operations at intersections is essential for effective use of traffic models for intersection design and traffic planning purposes.  Model calibration is an important element of this process.  The SIDRA INTERSECTION workshops are not just about intersection analysis, but aim to improve general understanding of operational analysis of all traffic facilities.  Enjoy the power of analysis to find solutions to intersection problems ...

The workshops will combine hands-on sessions and instructions to teach participants how to effectively use the latest version of SIDRA INTERSECTION, and how to apply and interpret results from the model to solve intersection problems. 

This is an interactive learning opportunity with hands-on computer experience, working together with instructors through many examples and case studies. 

In all  workshops, we will present a brief hands-on demonstration of the SIDRA TRIP software package, which has been released recently.

Delegate Comments

Very worthwhile training experience which will inevitably increase our design capability at the office.

"The course has provided me with some valuable insight and explanation in regards to the interpretation of results.  This will ensure that our office will make better use of the software package, providing more accurate results for our clients."

A very comprehensive and well-run course offering good level of content and support during exercises. 

I benefited greatly by attending the workshop.  Examples selected were relevant to my use of the program and covered a good range of situations that I might have to analyze in the future.

Workshop was excellent and very beneficial.  I can now assess intersections using SIDRA with confidence.

Overall, an excellent training that is very relevant to my day to day work.  I will use what I have learnt.

Venue

The workshops will be held at the Cliftons Melbourne training venue, where modern software training facilities are available.  Address: Clifton & Associates, Level 1 440 Collins Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000 Australia.

 Information about Melbourne and Victoria: www.visitvictoria.com

Duration

8.30 am to 5.00 pm on Day 1. 
8.30 am to 4.00 pm on Day 2.

Class Size

Maximum class size is 32 delegates for each workshop, with one delegate per computer. 

Previous Courses and Workshops

To date, we have trained hundreds of traffic/transportation professionals in SIDRA INTERSECTION workshops.  These professionals have benefited from an increased knowledge of the SIDRA INTERSECTION software and have enjoyed a greater understanding of intersection analysis methods. 

During 2000-2008, Akcelik and Associates and its accredited representatives ran over 100 training workshops with over 2000 delegates attending. In evaluation of these training workshops, the trainees rated various aspects of the workshops and the SIDRA INTERSECTION software very highly (see Evaluation).

See the Training page for previous workshops to date.

Target Audience

Traffic Engineers and Planners involved in the analysis of intersections for design, operations and planning purposes.

SIDRA INTERSECTION training workshops provide an excellent opportunity for networking by meeting your colleagues who are working in areas related to your work.  

Workshop Levels

BEGINNER workshop

The BEGINNER workshop is for people who have limited exposure to, or no knowledge of, SIDRA INTERSECTION.  It will focus on effective use of the basic aspects of SIDRA INTERSECTION, including  input data entry and a reasonable level of output interpretation.  The BEGINNER workshop achieves a fairly high level of use of SIDRA INTERSECTION.

INTERMEDIATE workshop

The INTERMEDIATE workshop assumes that the user knows how to use SIDRA INTERSECTION version 3. The workshop will focus on effective application of SIDRA INTERSECTION to intersection analysis problems covering more advanced aspects of the use of SIDRA INTERSECTION  in relation to output interpretation and the use of options and defaults.

ADVANCED workshop

The ADVANCED Workshop is offered for users with good knowledge of the SIDRA INTERSECTION software. This workshop will aim to teach delegates how to employ SIDRA INTERSECTION using advanced procedures to analyse some complicated cases of practical importance (see the Coverage section). 

Coverage

BEGINNER and INTERMEDIATE workshops will cover all types of intersections including traffic signals (50 %), roundabouts (35 %), and sign-controlled (stop and give-way) intersections (15 %).  Percentages indicate the approximate proportion of time intended to be allocated to each subject area. Both workshops will include some case studies.

The ADVANCED workshop will cover the following topics:

• paired intersections (closely-spaced roundabouts, staggered T,
  freeway diamond interchange),
• single point interchange (signalised),
• freeway interchange roundabout,
• bus priority at a signalised intersection,
• roundabout metering signals,
• staged vehicle manoeuvres at sign-controlled intersections,
• effect of upstream signals at sign-controlled intersections, and
• various merge situations (freeway, seagull).

We will also discuss and give advice about the following topics:

• model calibration (signalised intersections, roundabouts, sign-control),
• surveys (saturation flows at signalised intersections, gap acceptance parameters at unsignalised intersections, queue length at intersections),
• assessment of capacity and delay results for sign-controlled intersections, and
• various modelling issues (selecting the analysis (peak flow) period, short lane excess flow, lane utilisation). 

Prerequisites

BEGINNER Workshop

• General familiarity with traffic engineering methods and terminology, and basic knowledge of intersection capacity concepts. 
• Basic skills in MS Windows use.

INTERMEDIATE Workshop 

Attendance at a previous SIDRA INTERSECTION BEGINNER workshop or:

• A basic level of knowledge of the use of SIDRA INTERSECTION version 3. 
• General familiarity with traffic engineering methods and terminology, and basic knowledge of intersection capacity concepts.

ADVANCED Workshop 

Attendance at a previous SIDRA INTERSECTION INTERMEDIATE workshop, or:

• A good level of knowledge of the use of SIDRA INTERSECTION version 3. 
• A good level of familiarity with traffic engineering methods and terminology and knowledge of intersection capacity concepts.

Workshop Objectives

Upon completion of the BEGINNER Workshop, participants will:

• gain a basic knowledge of the capabilities of SIDRA INTERSECTION and the types of problems it can solve, 
• be able to prepare and enter the input data required by SIDRA INTERSECTION,  
• gain a basic knowledge of the use of various SIDRA INTERSECTION facilities, including Design Life Analysis, Sensitivity Analysis and Signal Timing Optimisation, and 
• gain a basic understanding of SIDRA INTERSECTION output.

Upon completion of the INTERMEDIATE Workshop, participants will:

• gain an improved knowledge of the capabilities of SIDRA INTERSECTION and the types of problems it can solve,
• gain improved knowledge of the SIDRA INTERSECTION input, templates, defaults and options,
• be able to use various SIDRA INTERSECTION facilities effectively, including Design Life Analysis, Sensitivity Analysis, Signal Timing Optimisation, and the SIDRA INTERSECTION method of determining lane use at intersections,
• gain an improved understanding of SIDRA INTERSECTION output including the capacity, performance estimation and timing analysis methods used in SIDRA INTERSECTION, and
• gain an improved understanding of fundamentals of how signalised and unsignalised intersections operate towards achieving effective intersection design. 

Upon completion of the ADVANCED Workshop, participants will:

• learn how to employ SIDRA INTERSECTION using advanced procedures to analyse some complicated cases of practical importance (see the Coverage section),
• gain improved knowledge about model calibration, various surveys, and assessment of SIDRA INTERSECTION results, and 
• gain increased knowledge in some advanced aspects of the functional design of different types of intersection.

SIDRA INTERSECTION

SIDRA INTERSECTION  software is an advanced micro-analytical traffic evaluation tool that employs lane-by-lane and vehicle drive cycle models. Its purpose is to help practitioners with evaluation of alternative intersection designs in terms of capacity, level of service and a wide range of performance measures including delay, queue length and stops for vehicles and pedestrians, as well as fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and operating cost.  First released in 1984, SIDRA INTERSECTION has been a popular professional tool for traffic engineers and planners worldwide. 

The latest version of SIDRA INTERSECTION will be used in this workshop.

The number of SIDRA INTERSECTION software licences issued to date has now reached 2500 sites in 89 countries.  The largest user groups (approximate numbers) are in USA and Canada (over 1100), Australia and New Zealand (over 600), South Africa (160), Malaysia & Singapore (over 100), Arabian Peninsula (over 50), and Spain, Norway, Slovenia, Italy and Chile (30 and over).  See User Status. 

Presenters

These workshops will be presented by Rahmi Akçelik and Mark Besley. 

Rahmi Akçelik, who is the author of the SIDRA INTERSECTION software is a leading scientist in the area of traffic management with over 250 technical publications in his area of expertise.  He is an Honorary Associate in the Department of Civil Engineering of Monash University.  Dr Akçelik served as member of the US Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committees on Highway Capacity and Quality of Service (HCQS), and Traffic Signal Systems.  He is currently a member of the HCQS Signalized Intersections and Unsignalised Intersections Subcommittees.  Dr Akçelik received the Clunies Ross National Science and Technology award in 1999.

Mark Besley is a scientist and software specialist who has worked in the traffic management area during the last two decades. He has made a significant contribution to the development of the SIDRA INTERSECTION software, and conducted many workshops, courses and seminars in many countries around the world, in collaboration with Rahmi Akçelik, over a long period.  Mark has been involved in many aspects of research on traffic operations including incident detection, traffic network models, fuel consumption estimation, traffic data collection and analysis. 

Accommodation and Parking

Delegates are responsible for their own hotel accommodation and car parking arrangements.  The venue is in the central city area where there is a large choice of accommodation and off-street parking.  See Cliftons Melbourne  for the hotels in the area. Also see www.visitvictoria.com  

Cost

The registration fees (per person) shown below are in Australian Dollars.  The fee includes workshop notes, morning and afternoon teas and lunch on each day, and covers costs of providing for hands-on computer use.  Registration fee is non-refundable.

Registration

Registration fees must accompany the completed Registration Form . 

A confirmation letter and receipt will be sent when the registration form is received with payment.   The registration is not confirmed until the payment is received.

Payments must be made in Australian Dollars.  The preferred method of payment is by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Amex).  

If not paying by credit card, overseas delegates must pay by Bank Cheque / Money Order (personal or company cheques are not acceptable).

All Cheques / Money Orders are payable to AKCELIK & ASSOCIATES PTY LTD.  

All registrations will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date of payment of the registration fee. 

Cancellation Policy

Refunds will NOT be given for cancellation of registration.  However, another delegate may be substituted.  Please notify Akcelik & Associates  in advance.  

Workshop REGISTRATION and TECHNICAL Enquiries

For all enquiries, please contact Akcelik & Associates:

Mail
Akcelik & Associates Pty Ltd
Training Workshops
PO Box 1075G
GREYTHORN, VIC 3104, Australia

Email
info@sidrasolutions.com

Phone
Local 03 9857 4943
International +613 9857 4943

Fax
Local 03 9857 7462
International +613 9857 7462