Evaluation of Al-Najaf Hospital intersection performance using simulation model : case study

الملخص EN

Traffic congestion is a widely spreading problem through the world.

It is mainly observed around intersections in urban areas.

In this study, Al-Najaf Hospital (Ibn Blal) intersection has been evaluated because it is considered the congested T-intersection on Kufa-Nafa road.

This T-intersection suffers from high congestion especially in the morning peak.

This could be due to a lot of centers of activities (trip generation and attractive) on that road such as University of Kufa, four hospitals and other facilities.

Although the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) 2000 suffers from several shortcomings and limitations, it is used widely in the evaluation of intersections in Iraq.

On the other hand, simulation models have been proved to be accurate tools in the evaluation of intersections.

Therefore, a simulation model (S-Paramics model) has been used to assess the performance of the current intersection.

Then, the simulation model was calibrated with field data.

Data was collected from the intersection using video camera installing over Al-Najaf Hospital building.

The results of this study show that the developed model clearly mimics the reality.

Then, different alternatives have been implemented using the developed model.

Consequently, the construction of an overpass coming from Najaf-Kufa road towards Al-Sahlaa road is the best alternative with protecting U-turn.