Class Information

Instructor Information

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CEUs:  CEUs: 1.60

This class is offered in partnership with the California Department of Transportation, Division of Local Assistance. Registration fees are subsidized with funding from the Cooperative Training Assistance Program. Reduced rates are available to employees of California's city, county, regional, and other public agencies only.

Class Technical Information

To attend this class, we recommend students directly connect through their agency's network and not attend the class from remote access or Wi-Fi. For questions and concerns, please email the class coordinator, Bernadette Edwards.
A limited trial, educational demo version of Synchro and SimTraffic will be provided for students who register for this class. If you already have Synchro 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.

Description

This four-session online course (4 hours per session) provides beginning-to-intermediate training in Synchro and SimTraffic software and the recently published Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) 7th Edition: A Guide for Multimodal Mobility Analysis (TRB 2022 and HCS7).
Using a combination of interactive lecture, question and answer, and virtual computer lab, you will become proficient in the network coding and use of Synchro and SimTraffic for signal optimization and coordination projects. Working on a real-world multi-modal project, students will use Synchro to incorporate a Bing 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 and unsignalized intersections and roundabouts. Students will also use Synchro to evaluate and develop optimal signal timing plans that reduce delays, stops, congestion, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. The seamless integration of Synchro with SimTraffic, a microsimulation software, will be used to evaluate intersection operations and compare the differences between "isolated - macro-level" Synchro and "network-wide - micro-level" SimTraffic analysis that is recommended for multi-modal, closely spaced intersections and congested corridors. Lastly, this course will teach you how to review and understand the potential differences in delay, level of service, and queuing analysis when using the empirical (Synchro) analysis or the micro-simulation (SimTraffic) analysis.

Click here for a detailed outline.

Topics Include

• Detailed review of Synchro input requirements
• Developing a Synchro network for a real-world multi-modal project
• Analysis of signalized, unsignalized and roundabout intersections using Synchro
• Multi-modal vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle LOS using HCM 7th Edition
• Optimizing signal timings for a single intersection that is added to an existing corridor
• Optimizing signal timings for a group of intersections
• Seemless Integration of SYNCHRO with SimTraffic
• SimTraffic Model Calibration and Application

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 Synchro and SimTraffic software. This includes incorporating a Bing 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 and unsignalized intersections and roundabouts. You will learn 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 analysis results and the potential differences when using the empirical (Synchro) analysis or the micro-simulation (SimTraffic) analysis for signal coordination projects.

The materials in this course are based on the following references:

• Transportation Research Board. Highway Capacity Manual, 7th Edition, 2022
• CUBIC Transportation Systems. Synchro Studio 12 Traffic Signal Software -User Guide, 2024

Who Should Attend

No prior experience using Synchro and SimTraffic is necessary. This course is designed for traffic engineers, planners, and technicians in both public agencies and private firms who engage in improving signal system optimization and coordination projects using the integrated Optimization Module in the Synchro software.

For More Information

About our courses and credits, see our FAQ
About payments, refunds, confirmations, and accessibility, see How to Enroll
Or email us with your questions at registrar@techtransfer.berkeley.edu

Cancellation Policy

To cancel your registration and receive a refund less a $75 processing fee, you must notify TechTransfer at least five (5) working days before the course is scheduled to begin. Notifications must be made in writing and sent by email to registrar@techtransfer.berkeley.edu. We reserve the right to charge the full course fee if proper notification is not sent to TechTransfer. We don't offer refunds for classes with registration fees of $75 or less.

In lieu of canceling your registration, you have three additional options: you may (1) transfer your registration to another class, (2) receive a tuition credit for the total amount, useable toward a future class, or (3) send a substitute in your place. Please contact us at least 5 full working days before the class is scheduled to begin so we may process your request.

If you’ve registered for a self-paced class, you cannot receive a refund once you start the class.

We recommend 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.

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