So, something I've been thinking of WRT the "road" network system in CIM2. This may be something more appropriate to CIM3 than as an update to CIM2, though.
From what I can tell, here's how I gather the system works. Each piece of the network is a spline. That spline contains a number of lanes, which allow certain kinds of traffic down them in certain directions. At a junction, where a spline is linked, the system works out which lanes "match" and allows agents to transition from one to the other.
From what I can tell, there's nothing fundamental in the program that would prevent us being able to make a "custom" set of lanes to apply to any given road. So, for example, rather than picking an "avenue", we could create a road with two bus lanes and one regular traffic lane, or a road with unequal numbers of lanes going each way. I may be wrong on this.
What I think would be interesting, however, would be to be able to mix and match all kinds of networks, including height differences. So you could have an "avenue" with metro tracks down the centre at a -4m offset, for example. This may well be outside the scope of the engine as currently implemented.
Where it would get really interesting is at junctions. Having the ability to design intersections of any kind would be a real advantage. For example, the thing I see requested a lot on here (including by me) is the ability to take a tram line running down the centre of an avenue and make it go under or above a crossroads intersection. At present this is doable but clunky. Similarly with pedestrian under/overpasses, although those could be implemented with a "teleporter" based system like metro and waterbus stations under the present system anyway. Creating turn lanes, deciding on stop signs or traffic lights, all these things would be of benefit.
Being able to dig down into the network and create more variation in custom road layouts, enabling things like multi-lane bus systems, "3D" junctions where one (or more) lanes can rise above or sink below the others, splitting lanes to create turn lanes, would make a lot of things more doable and would make the system neater.
As I say, I appreciate this may be more CIM3 than CIM2, but I do think that level of additional control would be appreciated by many.
From what I can tell, here's how I gather the system works. Each piece of the network is a spline. That spline contains a number of lanes, which allow certain kinds of traffic down them in certain directions. At a junction, where a spline is linked, the system works out which lanes "match" and allows agents to transition from one to the other.
From what I can tell, there's nothing fundamental in the program that would prevent us being able to make a "custom" set of lanes to apply to any given road. So, for example, rather than picking an "avenue", we could create a road with two bus lanes and one regular traffic lane, or a road with unequal numbers of lanes going each way. I may be wrong on this.
What I think would be interesting, however, would be to be able to mix and match all kinds of networks, including height differences. So you could have an "avenue" with metro tracks down the centre at a -4m offset, for example. This may well be outside the scope of the engine as currently implemented.
Where it would get really interesting is at junctions. Having the ability to design intersections of any kind would be a real advantage. For example, the thing I see requested a lot on here (including by me) is the ability to take a tram line running down the centre of an avenue and make it go under or above a crossroads intersection. At present this is doable but clunky. Similarly with pedestrian under/overpasses, although those could be implemented with a "teleporter" based system like metro and waterbus stations under the present system anyway. Creating turn lanes, deciding on stop signs or traffic lights, all these things would be of benefit.
Being able to dig down into the network and create more variation in custom road layouts, enabling things like multi-lane bus systems, "3D" junctions where one (or more) lanes can rise above or sink below the others, splitting lanes to create turn lanes, would make a lot of things more doable and would make the system neater.
As I say, I appreciate this may be more CIM3 than CIM2, but I do think that level of additional control would be appreciated by many.
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