This 4-day online course (4 hrs/session) provides beginning-to-intermediate training using PTV Vistro software and the Highway Capacity Manual 7th Edition: A Guide for Multimodal Mobility Analysis (TRB 2022 and HCS7) for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Using a combination of interactive lecture, question and answer, and hands on computer lab, you will become proficient using Vistro for signal optimization and coordination projects. Working on a real-world multi-modal project, students will use Vistro to incorporate a detailed aerial background, add/modify roadways, input intersection geometrics, enter multi-modal traffic volumes (cars, trucks, pedestrians, and bicycles), and signal timings to replicate / validate existing operations for signalized, unsignalized and roundabout intersections.

Students will learn how to review Vistro traffic study parameters, including geometrics, multi-modal volumes, and signal timing inputs, including the use of Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) to improve pedestrian safety at signalized intersections, while also evaluating and developing optimal signal timing plans that reduce delays, stops, congestion, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

This course will also teach you how to review signal coordination plan studies and understand the potential differences / benefits in average delay, level of service, and queuing analysis when analyzing and comparing No Coordination Project (Existing) Conditions and With Coordination Project (Improved) Conditions.

Additional course detail is provided in the sections below.

• Course Topics
  • Detailed review of Vistro input requirements
  • Developing a Vistro network for a real-world multi-modal project
  • Vistro analysis of signalized, unsignalized, & roundabout intersections
  • How to analyze the use of Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) to improve pedestrian safety at signalized intersections
  • Multi-modal vehicle, pedestrian & bicycle LOS using HCM 7th Edition
  • Optimizing signal timing for single intersection added to existing corridor
  • Optimizing signal timing for a group of intersections
  • Analyzing & presenting the benefits of signal coordination
• Course Outline

  [no course outline provided]

• What you will learn

  Using a real-world project in a virtual computer lab class setting, students will be able to interact with the instructor as they learn how to develop a network and use the PTV Vistro software.

  This includes incorporating a detailed aerial background, add/modify straight and curved roadways, inputting intersection geometrics and pocket lengths, entering multi-modal volumes (cars, trucks, peds, and bicyclists), and signal timings to replicate / validate existing operations analysis for signalized, unsignalized and roundabout intersections.

  Students will also learn how to include the use of Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) to improve pedestrian safety at signalized intersections, and the steps used to optimize and coordinate a group of intersections to reduce delays, stops, congestion, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

  Lastly, you will learn how to review and understand the potential differences / benefits in average delay, level of service, and queuing analysis when analyzing and comparing No Coordination Project (Existing) Conditions and With Coordination Project (Improved) Conditions.

• Who should attend

  No prior experience using Vistro is necessary.

  This course is designed for transportation planners, traffic engineers, and technicians in both public agencies and private firms who engage in developing and also effectively Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) reviewing signal system optimization and coordination projects using the integrated Optimization Module in the Vistro software.

• Course Prerequisites

  A limited trial, educational demo version of VISTRO will be provided for students who register for this class. If you already have VISTRO on your computer, you may also use that, but it isn't required to attend this course.

  For the best learning experience, it's recommended that you have two monitors. You will not be able to attend this class on your phone.

  We recommend students connect directly through their agency's network and not attend class from remote access or Wi-Fi. For any questions or concerns, please email the class coordinator, Bernadette Edwards.

• Course Instructors

  Fred Choa, P.E.,Principal, Fehr & Peers

  Mr. Choa is a registered Professional Traffic Engineer in California with over 30 years of experience in multi-modal traffic engineering and signal operations analysis. He serves as Fehr & Peers' National Multi-Modal Traffic Operations Safety Leader, mentoring the next generation of leaders based on his experience working on operations (Synchro, VISTRO, Tru-Traffic, PASSER, and TRANSYT),simulation (SimTraffic, CORSIM, Paramics, and VISSIM) and Travel Demand Forecasting (VISUM, Cube and TransCAD) to improve safety and operations for all travel modes (passenger cars, pedestrians, transit, trucks and bicyclists).

  In addition to being a transportation professional, Mr. Choa has enjoyed giving back to the transportation community by being an instructor for the University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Transportation Studies, Technology Transfer Program for the past twenty-six (26) years. On occasion, he also teaches as a guest lecturer for both undergraduate and graduate level transportation classes, teaching how to use a combination of the Cube / TransCAD / VISUM Travel Demand Forecasting (TDF) Models and SimTraffic / VISSIM to forecast and analyze corridor operations for automobiles, pedestrians, transit, trucks, and bicyclists.

  Diwu Zhou, P.E., RSP1 Associate Transportation Engineer, Fehr & Peers

  Mr. Zhou is a registered Professional Civil Engineer and Road Safety Professional in California with more than 10 years of experience in traffic engineering and operations analysis. He is passionate about balancing the often conflicting needs of mobility and safety, and is well suited to provide clients with advice and recommendations backed by research, data, and analysis through his intimate knowledge of traffic operations and design, safety best practices, and big data. He serves as the Vice-Chair of the Institute for Transportation Engineers' Transportation Safety Council and as a committee member of the Transportation Research Board's Intermodal Freight Transport Committee.

  In addition to working on projects, Mr. Zhou has enjoyed being an instructor for the U.C. Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies Tech Transfer Program for the past five (5) years where he teaches traffic operations analysis using SYNCHRO and SimTraffic, and is an alumnus of the U.C. Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies.

• Registration Information

  Registration for this course occurs at the TechTransfer training host site. Use the button to the right to directly access the course page and registration portal. You will be asked to create a user account as part of the registration process.

  Approximately one week before the course start date, all paid students will receive detailed instructions on how to access the web-based lecture and course site. You will also receive instructions on how to access the student course notebook.

  If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the TechTransfer Registrar at (510) 643-4393 or registrar@techtransfer.berkeley.edu.

• For more information

  To learn more about TechTransfer courses and credits, see their FAQ (https://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/faq-page).

  To learn more about TechTransfer's cancellation, refund, and substitution policies, see How to Enroll (https://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/enrollment/how-enroll).

  Cancellation Policy:

  The cancellation fee for this course is $75. At TechTransfer, there are no refunds for classes with registration fees of $75 or less. For all other classes, you may cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your registration fee less $75, provided they receive your written request to cancel at least 5 full working days before the class is scheduled to begin.

  In lieu of canceling your registration, you may (1) transfer your registration to another TechTransfer class, (2) receive a tuition credit for the full amount, useable toward a future class, or (3) send a substitute in your place.

  Note: TechTransfer recommends you discuss any possible problems or online security issues with your IT person before you register for any online classes. If you are worried about connectivity issues, please contact the online training coordinator the week before the class to schedule a time to test your system. If you do not test your system and you have technical issues during a live online class, we will not provide a refund.