• Define a VISSIM call in the VS-WorkSuite registers by defining
  • The location of the VISSIM exe file and ("File")
  • The location of the Xiao Ximen input file ("Parameter")
• Call VISSIM
• Set control type to VS-PLUS: Signal Control > Edit Signals > Edit > Type list

• Push the "More…" button and configure the following parameters:
  • Program File – the VS-PLUS/SIM executable: vsp613.exe
  • Import File – the VS-PLUS parameter file: xiaoximen.vce
    Warning: the import file name must not contain spaces!
  • Program No: 1 (as set in the program definition)

• Run the simulation!
  

Signal and detector recording

In order to obtain a diagram with the signal head and the detector states, the following window has to be configured before simulation and opened during or just before simulation.

• Configure the signal times table: Signal Control > Edit Signals > Edit > SigTimTbl.Cfg

• Configure the xxm.szp file by selecting the desired signal head and detector information. The example shows all signal heads and detector on channel 20.
• Make the list shown: Options > Evaluations > Windows > Signal Times Table > Select All > Ok

• Start the simulation

State recording

In order to obtain a protocol with additional state information, the following window has to be configured before simulation and opened during or just before simulation.

• Configure the states table: Signal Control > Edit Signals > Edit > SCJ/Det.Rec

Unfortunately, this panel is still mixed German – English. In order to know the internal VS-PLUS states, the following variables have to be recorded:

• Simulation second
• Cycle second
• Main pointer for priority element 1 (the only we are using right now) – in German "Hauptzeiger PE1"
• For each signal head and traffic stream the following information (in our case for the numbers 1 to 10):
  • State of the traffic stream – in German "Zustand VS"
  • Frame signal in the permissive period plan for the traffic stream – in German "Rahmen VS"
  • The signal display, i.e. the color shown by the signal head
• You can add empty columns in order to make the protocol better read-able.
• Make the list shown: Options > Evaluations > Windows > SCJ/Det.Record > Select All > Ok

• Start the simulation

• The states are shown in columns. See the next section for an explication of internal VS-PLUS states.
• It is also possible to record this information into a file. Activate this logging function by Make the list shown: Options > Evaluations > Files > SCJ/Det.Record:

For a more comfortable view on this information, there is VS-VISTA with the VS-PLUS Monitor: The use of VS-VISTA is not described in this document.

The systematic approach is as follows:

• Test the program without traffic.
• Test the program with continuous occupation of all detectors.
• Test the program with simulated traffic.
• In the case of fully traffic-dependent control, especially without a per-missive period plan, manual clicking on single detectors might be checked for correct functioning.
• There are also hybrid testing scenarios where, especially for public transport functions, pre-recorded detector macros are played. We will not treat this feature here.

No traffic

• Open a signal and detector recording window.
• Go to VISSIM test mode: Test > Continuous

• VISSIM goes to test mode showing all detectors and signal head states. Do not click on the detectors.

• Look at the recording window. There should be a steady state signal plan serving all phases in a reasonable manner.

Continuous occupation

• Open a signal and detector recording window.
• Go to VISSIM test mode: Test > Single step
• Double-click on all detectors in order to make them continuously occupied (light blue). Single clicking generates a detector impulse (blue) that can be used for individual detector testing.

• Start the testing either step by step or continuously using the normal VISSIM buttons.

• Look at the recording window. Again, there should be a steady state signal plan serving all phases in a manner that corresponds to the traffic flows under full load.

Simulated traffic

• Open a signal and detector recording window.
• Go to VISSIM simulation mode: Simulation > Continuous
• Look at the recording window. There will be no steady state. Check if the resulting signal sequences correspond to what your intention was.
• Sometimes you might be surprised because VS-PLUS generates signal sequences you never thought about before. Check if you want to accept them. If not, find the parameters to inhibit certain signal sequences and modify them.

• Signal sequence: 1|2 – 2|6 – 1|5|9|10 – 3|7 – 4|8
  Normal signal sequence as defined in the static signal plan. Timing var-ies a bit between the two following cycles.

• Signal sequence: 1|2 – 2|6 – 1|5|9|10 – 2|6 – 3|7 – 4|8
  There has been an extra 2|6 phase due to heavy left turn load on the west access.

• Signal sequence: 1|2 – 2|6 – 1|5|9|10 – 2|6 – 1|9|10 – 3|7 – 4|8
  There has been an extra 2|6 phase and an extra bus phase, i.e. the buses have been served twice in a cycle.

• Signal sequence: 1|2 – 2|6 – 1|5|9|10 – 1|2 – 2|6 – 3|7 – 4|8
  There has been an extra 1|2 phase, followed by an extra 2|6 phase in order to serve phase 2 more, even though phase 1 was running out of traffic.

• Don't forget to check optically the resulting waiting queues and whether they do not exceed the maximum length you are willing to accept.

• This screen dump shows VISSIM after 40 minutes of simulated time during rush hour. The queues look all very satisfying, so this VS-PLUS parameter set is ready to be deployed!