---
title: Strategic Transport Modelling and Microsimulation
url: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/services/data-modelling/strategic-transport-modelling-and-simulation/"
type: services
date_published: 2023-06-20
date_modified: 2023-11-23
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language: en-IE
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reading_time: 6 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/services/data-modelling/strategic-transport-modelling-and-simulation/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/strategic-traffic-modelling-website-header.jpg"
type-service:
  - Data Modelling
---

# Strategic Transport Modelling and Microsimulation

**SYSTRA works at the forefront of transport modelling and simulation. We apply relevant appraisal and forecasting techniques to help clients deliver the transport networks, policies and strategies required to meet future demand and address national priorities for sustainability, accessibility and equity in transport provision.**

### Developing optimal transport solutions for the future

Transport plays a key role in shaping the future of towns and cities and
addressing some of the biggest challenges facing society today. Local
authorities, developers and transport planners need to balance a complex range
of priorities in order to deliver the optimum transport systems for a given
development, city or region.

A wide range of modelling tools and appraisal techniques can be used to inform
the development of new transport schemes and policies – so it’s important to
choose the most appropriate model for each application. New transport projects
need to balance the demands of road users and passengers with the need to
provide more sustainable and active travel options.

SYSTRA is a leading transport modelling consultant, with more than 50 years’
experience in developing innovative tools to carry out traffic and transport
forecasts and appraisals – helping clients predict and plan optimal transport
solutions for the future.

### our experience

Discover how SYSTRA provides expert insight and advice to support decision
making, policy development and strategy.

[VIEW CASE STUDIES](https://www.systra.com/ireland/our-projects/)

![insights-6](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/05/insights-6-1024x645.jpg)

**Working with our clients, SYSTRA focuses transport modelling on specific needs and provides approaches and tools that are proportionate, evidence-based and fit-for-purpose.**

### Targeted support for robust transport appraisals

Our experience enables us to simulate traffic and transport impacts on any
scale. We use innovative data visualisation techniques to ensure that the
complex outputs from our models can be widely understood and interrogated by all
stakeholders, regardless of their transport modelling expertise.

The quantitative analysis we provide is used to support scheme and policy
appraisals, and to assess the transport impacts of future developments or
transport schemes. We commonly integrate public transport, road, park-and-ride,
parking, active travel and variable demand modelling to provide clients with
full and robust representations of transport choices and provision.

Our multi-modal and microsimulation modelling expertise supports the development
of transport strategies, business cases, land-use planning appraisals and public
transport patronage forecasts. We develop tools and methods to help clients
address some of the key priorities for the transport sector:

- We model carbon emitted by transport and assess the impacts of measures to
  achieve net zero.

- Active mode appraisals help to predict the usage and resultant benefits of
  cycling and walking schemes.

- Low Emission Zone and Clean Air Zone assessments help to predict the impacts
  of charging and non-charging measures on transport behaviour (changes in fleet
  mix, modal change and routing change) and the harmful gas emissions of
  transport.

- Predictive tools help to identify the need and location for electric vehicle
  charging infrastructure.

- Alternative futures models apply behavioural research into future transport
  systems conducted by our in-house research teams.

### Public transport modelling

We support the development of better public transport services, using models to
analyse and predict public transport demand and usage. We help clients
understand which public transport routes passengers will use, how crowding on
buses, trains and trams affects travellers’ choices, and how fare strategies
will impact ridership and revenue.

Our models can be used to assess the benefits of improving walking routes to
public transport stops and stations, and of improving the comfort of waiting
areas or the cleanliness of vehicles and stations. We can import big data
sources, such as ticket sales and service timetables, to enhance the efficiency
and accuracy of our models.

### Strategic highway modelling

We can conduct highway modelling on any scale, from examining individual
junctions to modelling all highways across cities, regions or even countries. We
can carry out these assessments as stand-alone highways-only studies, or as part
of wider multi-modal modelling projects.

We specialise in connecting different modelling software to allow different
levels of detail to be modelled within the same highway network – so we can
capture powerful interactions within our appraisals. We have expertise in using
all of the principal highway modelling software, including Saturn, Visum and
Cube, as well as our own bespoke modelling software.

![winchester-station-masterplan](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/winchester-station-masterplan-1.png)

### AREAS OF EXPERTISE

- Variable demand & behavioural change
- Operational and lifecycle carbon
- Public transport
- Cycle & pedestrian
- Local and strategic highway

### Variable demand modelling

Variable Demand Models (VDM) integrate modelling of the road, public transport
and active travel networks to predict overall travel patterns. SYSTRA has been
at the forefront of variable demand modelling since our first study in the UK in
1968. We continue to push the boundaries of variable demand modelling, including
advising on the potential for innovative activity-based models, which provide
detailed representations of the choices households make in scheduling their
daily lives and journeys.

### Bespoke models for every application

There are many ways to build a transport model, depending on the intended
purpose and desired outcome. SYSTRA has particular skills in establishing the
necessary characteristics of a model and developing appropriate models that are
fit for the intended purpose.

We have experience in all aspects of modelling tool development, from
determining high level functionality to collecting and collating data. We can
apply activity-based modelling and outputs, and we can adopt different
approaches to forecasting, such as ‘decide and provide’ or ‘vision and
validate’.

We’d love to help with your next project

[Connect with our specialists](https://www.systra.com/ireland/contact/business/)

### you may also like

![Expert Insights](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/05/media-enquiries-1024x645.jpg)

_Expert's Insights Read more sur Expert's Insights_

![strategic-traffic-modelling-website-header](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/06/strategic-traffic-modelling-website-header-1024x645.jpg)

_About Us Read more sur About Us_

![sustainability_header](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2025/10/sustainability_header-1024x645.jpg)

_Sustainability at SYSTRA Read more sur Sustainability at SYSTRA_

[Join our community](https://www.systra.com/ireland/register/join-our-community/)

![](https://www.systra.com/ireland/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2023/03/careers-1024x323.jpg)

Interested in progressing your
[career](https://www.systra.com/ireland/careers/start-a-career-at-systra/) at
SYSTRA? Find out more about opportunities in our careers section.

[SEARCH CAREERS](https://www.systra.com/ireland/careers/start-a-career-at-systra/)

## Check our other services

### Modern Methods of Construction

### Development & Infrastructure

### Transport Advisory

### Digital Solutions and Software Development

### Future Mobility

### Systems Approach

### Programme & Project Management

### Environmental Strategy

### Innovation

### Environmental Advisory