Presentation about how to integrate a procedural city 3D modelling tool (CityEngine) and a microsimulation tool (Vissim) into a game engine (Unity) in order to achieve a better rendering of animated street designs

1. ValueLab Asia – Future Cities Laboratory
(2016) Source: Alex Erath
Using Vissim in Virtual Reality Applications to Evaluate Active Mobility Solutions
PTV Innovation Day 2016 -­ Singapore
TEAM
Dr Alexander ERATH
Prof Dr Kay W. AXHAUSEN
Prof Dr Christoph HOELSCHER
Michael JOOS
Pieter J. FOURIE
Cuauhtemoc ANDA
Michael van EGGERMOND
Jonas KUPFERSCHMID
Tanvi MAHESHWARI
Mohsen NAZEMI
Sergio ORDONEZ
www.fcl.ethz.ch
PRESENTER
Jonas KUPFERSCHMID

2. ENGAGING ACTIVE MOBILITY
Project Overview
Procedural 3D-­modelling of streets with ESRI CityEngine
Simulation of Cycling interactions in Vissim
Rendering with Unity
Applications
Outlook

3. ENGAGING ACTIVE MOBILITY
Objectives
- To understand what is needed
to make walking and cycling
viable modes of transport in
the tropics.
- Develop street designs that
are responsive to future forms
of mobility
Methods
- Design Research
- Interviews
- Virtual Reality enhanced
surveys
- Traffic micro-­simulation
- Spatial analytics
Innovation
- Explore Virtual Reality as a new
tool for transport and urban
planning
- Evidence-­based design
recommendations
L. Barges in the Straits of Malacca (2015)
Source: Caroline Brown
R. London ‘Dashboard’ (2014)
Source: London County Council
Partner
L. Street design studies in Singapore (2016)
Source: Tanvi Maheswari
M. Prototype of virtual cycling environment
Source: Michael Joos (2016)
R. Testing cyling simulator prototype at NHTV
Breda / Atlantis Games (2015) Source: Alex
Erath

4. VIRTUAL REALITY
L. Barges in the Straits of Malacca (2015)
Source: Caroline Brown
R. London ‘Dashboard’ (2014)
Source: London County Council
Virtual Reality Society (2016), United Kingdom

5. VIRTUAL REALITY
L. Barges in the Straits of Malacca (2015)
Source: Caroline Brown
R. London ‘Dashboard’ (2014)
Source: London County Council
Virtual Reality Society (2016), United Kingdom

6. VIRTUAL REALITY
L. Barges in the Straits of Malacca (2015)
Source: Caroline Brown
R. London ‘Dashboard’ (2014)
Source: London County Council
Oculus Rift (2016), htc Vive (2016)

7. SETUP
Still images
3D Model Traffic simulation
Game engine
Videos
Interactive VR

8. ENGAGING ACTIVE MOBILITY
Project Overview
Procedural 3D-­modelling of streets with ESRI CityEngine
Simulation of Cycling interactions in Vissim
Rendering with Unity
Applications
Outlook

9. GENERATING ENTIRE CITIES WITH ONE CLICK

10. GENERATING IMAGINARY CITIES

11. PROCEDURAL MODELLING OF STREETS
Procedural modelling
• Computer graphics technique
to create 3D models and
texture from a set of rules
• Programmable visualisation
saves a lot of modelling
efforts
• Interactive rendering allows
new applications
Complete streets rule
• Developed by ESRI Research
• Robust procedural street
example that incorporates
knowledge and ideas from
various sources of
transportation planning
knowledge
• We further developed those
rules to fit Singapore
conditions and our modelling
needs.
Code available at
https://github.com/fcl-­engaging-­mobility/Complete_Street_Rule
ESRI CityEngine (2016)
Source: ESRI

12. INPUTS AND OUTPUTS OF THE PROCEDURAL MODEL
Vissim
Unity
ArcGIS
GDB
JPG
Vertices of obstacles
Vertices of streets and
sidewalks (in progress)
FBX/
OBJ/
COLLADA
CityEngine

13. ENGAGING ACTIVE MOBILITY
Project Overview
Procedural 3D-­modelling of streets with ESRI CityEngine
Simulation of cycling interactions in Vissim
Rendering with Unity
Applications
Outlook

14. VISSIM: A WIDELY-­USED MULTIMODAL MICROSIMULATION TOOL
Vissim simulation ‘Big Intersection’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
https://youtu.be/AmB_W5VbPNU

15. Vissim simulation ‘Big Intersection’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
Challenges:
• Import of geometry
• Interaction of pedestrians and vehicles
• Modelling of cyclists
• Human (unpredictable) behaviour
• Rendering and video quality in 3D
• Shared space between pedestrians and cyclists
VISSIM: A WIDELY-­USED MULTIMODAL MICROSIMULATION TOOL

16. Vissim simulation ‘Big Intersection’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
Challenges:
• Import of geometry
• Interaction of pedestrians and vehicles
• Modelling of cyclists
• Human (unpredictable) behaviour
• Rendering and video quality in 3D
• Shared space between pedestrians and cyclists
VISSIM: A WIDELY-­USED MULTIMODAL MICROSIMULATION TOOL

17. CHALENGES OF EXPORTING NETWORKS FROM CITYENGINE TO VISSIM
Screenshots ‘Export from CityEngine to Vissim’
(2016) Source: Mohsen Nazemi
Available in CityEngine

18. CHALENGES OF EXPORTING NETWORKS FROM CITYENGINE TO VISSIM
Screenshots ‘Export from CityEngine to Vissim’
(2016) Source: Mohsen Nazemi
Available in CityEngine Required in Vissim

19. SURFACES: AREA OR OBSTACLE WITH DIFFERENT DISPLAY TYPES
Vissim project ‘T-­road intersection’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
Import options for surfaces (DWG-­files)

20. EXAMPLE OF IMPORT: RESULTS IN 3D
Vissim project ‘Singaporean streets 3D’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
Imported surfaces and obstacles

21. EXAMPLE OF IMPORT: RESULTS IN 3D
Vissim project ‘Singaporean streets 3D’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
Obstacles still visible

22. EXAMPLE OF IMPORT: RESULTS IN 3D
Vissim project ‘Singaporean streets 3D’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
Obstacles hidden

23. VISSIM: RENDERING RESULTS IN 3D
Vissim project ‘Singaporean streets 3D’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid

24. Vissim project ‘Singaporean streets 3D’ (2016)
Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
VISSIM: RENDERING RESULTS IN 3D

25. EXPORT TO UNITY
Vissim project ‘First Parkour 3D’ (2016) Source:
Jonas Kupferschmid
Saving the trajectories with required attributes in text files (CVS)

26. IMPROVING THE 3D ENVIRONMENT: FROM VISSIM TO UNITY
Output file with vehicle trajectories from Vissim
(2016) Source: Jonas Kupferschmid
Prototype of virtual cycling environment
Source: Michael Joos (2016)

27. ENGAGING ACTIVE MOBILITY
Project Overview
Procedural 3D-­modelling of streets with ESRI CityEngine
Simulation of cycling interactions in Vissim
Rendering with Unity
Applications
Outlook

28. Input
- City Engine: procedural city 3D models
- Vissim: vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and lights simulation data
- Other 3D models: vehicles, pedestrians, street furniture, traffic
lights, etc.
Output
- High visual quality renderings for presentations and surveys
- Videos of moving traffic in 3D environment.
- 360 videos for immersive VR experience
- Interactive VR application with real-­time traffic reaction
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
?
City Engine Vissim 3D Models
Still images Videos Interactive VR

29. PUTTING IT TOGETHER: SCRIPTS
Traffic Data
- Interpret Vissim’s traffic data
- Traffic lights system
- Traffic diversity generator
Animation
- Pedestrian adaptive movement
- Vehicle trajectory smoothing
- Vehicle brake lights
- Vehicle wheel rotation
Code available at
https://github.com/fcl-­engaging-­mobility/UnityScripts

30. ENGAGING ACTIVE MOBILITY
Project Overview
Procedural 3D-­modelling of streets with ESRI CityEngine
Simulation of cycling interactions in Vissim
Rendering with Unity
Applications
Outlook

31. Complete streets that are safe, convenient & comfortable
And varying number of car
lanes, presence of bus lane,
trees, sidewalk width,
presence and location of
bicycle lane, traffic volumes
and buffer type.

32. Generating large number of options for surveys

33. Survey: Where would you cycle?
Method
• Also offer third option: would
not cycle, but take other mode
of transport
Variables
• Cycling lane type, separation
from traffic, greenery, bus
volume, car volume, bike
volume pedestrian volume
• Street type, number of car
lanes, availability of bus lane
• Trip purpose
• Cycling distance
• Travel time with other modes
Two-­‐way
cycle
lane
on
sidewalk
Cycling
on
road

34. Semi-­interactive Experience
- YouTube allows to change
viewing angle
- More immersive experience
with VR headset
OUTPUT: 360° VIDEOS
First 360° video of a cycling path in Parkour
Source: Michael Joos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbxjDVIecg8
Disclaimer
The content of this video is a work in
progress and do not represent the
final product. Since then, visual
quality has been improved, new
vehicles, pedestrians and traffic light
models have been added.

36. ENGAGING ACTIVE MOBILITY
Project Overview
Procedural 3D-­modelling of streets with ESRI CityEngine
Simulation of cycling interactions in Vissim
Rendering with Unity
Applications
Outlook

37. OUTLOOK
Stated preference survey
First pilot testing in July/August
Full study in October
Park(ing) day Cycling simulator Spatial analysis
Implementation of
OpenTripPlanner Analyst for
Singapore with residency of
lead developer Andrew Byrd
Improvements how walking and
cycling networks are modelled
Shipping cycling simulator from
NL to Singapore in September
Re-­imagine an existing street in
Singapore
Showcase design scenario in
place using Virtual Reality

38. Thank you very much for your interest!
Visit our blog http://blogs.ethz.ch/engagingmobility
kupferschmid@ivt.baug.ethz.ch

39. TEAM ZURICH
Dr. Alex Erath
Project Leader
Prof. Dr. K.
Axhausen
Co-­PI
Transport Planning
Prof. Dr. C.
Hölscher
Co –PI
Cognitive
Psychology
Michael v.
Eggermond
Senior Researcher
Spatial Analysis
Tanvi Maheshwari
Researcher
Urban Design
Jonas
Kupferschmid
Researcher
Traffic Simulation
Mohsen Nazemi
PhD Researcher
Future Mobility
Michael Joos
Senior Software
Engineer
Gaming
TEAM SINGAPORE

41. Procedural modeling
Game engine: rendering & interaction
Traffic micro
simulation