13.2.4 MOE Selection

As stated in
Chapter 4
 of this manual, MOE provide information to decision makers on the performance of the microsimulation model and help determine similarities and differences between alternatives. These MOEs are projectand tool-specific but generally aim to quantify mobility, reliability, and accessibility. Modelers typically measure some or all of the following network MOEs while conducting a microsimulation analysis:
  • Control Delay (sec/veh);
    • LOS (A-F) can be derived from control delay by converting all vehicles to passenger car equivalents per the HCM methodology. Otherwise, analysts can note that the LOS used is not equivalent to the HCM methodology.
    • Results from the seeding period are typically excluded when reporting control delay.
  • Queue Length (ft);
  • Speed (mph);
    • Includes average link speed and average route speed
  • Travel Time (sec);
  • Total Network Delay; and
  • Density (passenger cars per hour per lane or pcphpl)
In addition to network MOEs, link MOEs are used if the results of specific roadway segments are of particular interest. MOEs for links include volume, density, speed, emissions, and relative delay. Add a caveat when reporting density directly from a microsimulation model since microsimulation tools have their own way of interpreting density while the HCM density is based on converting all vehicles to a passenger car equivalent. Network MOEs are also an output from some microsimulation models. These MOEs include environmental MOEs (total emissions released), total number of vehicles, average speed, total stops, average stops, fuel consumption, latent demand, total travel time, and total delay. These MOE types describe the results of the entire network rather than specific intersections or links. See
Chapter 4
 for additional guidance on MOE selection.