Transport + Gateways

Better people movement planning that facilitates safer, more comfortable journeys and releases space for commercial opportunities

The key purpose of all transport systems is to facilitate the movement of passengers to their destination. People movement planning ensures pedestrian flow is optimised; it should be a central consideration in the design and operation of transport nodes and interchanges and in any investment decision to meet increasing travel demand.

Our projects range from the large scale, such as, the development of network design standards for the Dubai Metro (the first in the Middle East) and strategic safety advice to Santiago Metro, through to design and option appraisal for major stations, to smaller scale refurbishments, such as, platform extensions or gating modelling studies.

OUR APPROACH

Stations and transport interchanges are under pressure to become multi-functional and adapt to changing customer demands. The efficient use of space is vital to providing flexibility and resilience to meet these needs and to cater for seasonal changes, major events and emergencies.

Our people movement analysis and advice helps to ensure circulation spaces are safe and provide balanced passenger flows, freeing up space for commercial opportunities and passenger facilities, a vital revenue generator for owners and operators.

APPLICATIONS

Our services for the transport sector include:

  • Working with designers, multi-disciplinary teams, owners and operators of transport facilities, providing planning, passenger simulation and value engineering services (e.g.new station design, refurbishments and capacity schemes)
  • Experience in the Network Rail Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) process and RIBA Plan of Work model, with a specific focus on delivering station capacity improvements (e.g. design assurance and enhancement, gateline assessments, feasibility studies)
  • Risk assessment for crowd flow and safety, assessing the accessibility of platforms for all users and recommendations to improve passenger comfort
  • Robust data collection using cameras, cellular and Wi-Fi data to inform decision making for design, planning and operation
  • Demand forecasting, catchment and competitor analysis using insights derived from big data (e.g. franchise bid support for train operating companies)
  • Working with research partners to inform design on future passenger demand design standards
  • Rolling stock studies, including passenger boarding and alighting analysis for High Speed Rail and Metro, passenger flow simulations at the Platform Train Interface (PTI), measuring flow rates, service/passenger densities, and impact on station dwell time
  • Design advice including specification for train interior design (position of seating,handholds) to enhance customer experience and/or station operations
  • 3D Pedflow visualisations of modelling outputs, as videos, interactive format or full Virtual Reality (VR) via headsets that provide an excellent means of communicating the need and benefits of the concept design and performance to internal and external stakeholders
  • Evacuation studies using to test and mitigate risk for various emergency scenarios.

Pioneering the application of dynamic simulation modelling to a rail station, we have assessed the largest and most complex stations in the world. We have helped establish best practice modelling techniques; providing feedback to developers on software improvements. Working with Network Rail, we have shaped how Station Capacity Assessment Guidance should be applied to different stations and circumstances.

Our dynamic microsimulation tools include Legion, Pathfinder, Pedestrian Dynamics, Massmotion and our in-house SENSE software. We also use spread sheet modelling and qualitative and quantitative assessments depending on the project requirements. Our approach and methodology is tailored to deliver the best results for each project.

Our multi-disciplinary team includes behavioural design specialists, who consider the psychology of pedestrians, their decision-making in different environments and interventions that can influence behaviour. Our pedestrian and passenger assessments therefore account for ‘human’ factors and we can identify potential solutions to crowding that involve experiential options rather than investing in expensive infrastructure. 

Our innovative data collection techniques (including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular ‘phone data) provide a greater level of insight into pedestrian behaviour and how people interact with each other and the space around them to help inform design, planning and operations.

Movement Strategies complies with RSSB RISQS (Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme) Audit Protocols.

Movement Strategies is a member of the Railway Industry Association

Related case studies

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