The current practice of lift traffic design using calculation and simulation

Abstract

Lift traffic design can employ calculation or simulation methods. Calculation can be split into main categories: analytical equation-based methods and numerical methods. Simulation can be split into discrete event simulation and time-slice simulation. These methods vary in the level of computational complexity, as well as their ability to arrive at a value for the required performance parameters with acceptable accuracy and under the general case. Moreover, the repeatability of the results is an important consideration, as well as the simplicity and calculation time of the method used. This technical note provides a general overview of each of the four methods. It also discusses the suitable areas of application of each of the methods, showing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the four methods. This technical note concludes by outlining the current hybrid method used by designers in lift traffic design, whereby one of the calculation methods is used to find a starting arrangement and then the design is fine tuned using one of the simulation methods (e.g. changing speed, capacity of the lifts as well as the group control algorithm) in order to achieve the required average passenger waiting time and average passenger transit time.

Practical application: This technical note provides a blueprint to lift traffic designers for the lift traffic design process. It emphasises the fact that calculation and simulation are not mutually exclusive methodologies, and shows how they complement each other, where the former provides a starting design and the latter allows the designer to fine tune the lift traffic design.