CIVITAS DYN@MO
SIMULATION GAME
Simulation game for future mobility
2050
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Introduction and Background
In order to work out and draw up smart and sustainable mobility strategies, it is essential to
predict the development of transport demand. There is often a wide range of possible
developments, so in order to describe future transport developments, it is helpful to work with
various basic development scenarios and calculate various future scenarios. In order to obtain
convincing and well founded scenarios, it is essential to know the different influential parameters
for mobility and transport demand and their possible developments. In order to provide guidance
for this discussion and include all relevant topics, the Institute for Urban and Transport Planning
of RWTH Aachen University has developed the simulation game for future mobility, which is
drawn up as part of the project CIVITAS-DYN@MO (Civitas Dyn@mo 2011) supported by the
European Committee.
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Goal
The goal of the simulation game for future mobility is to introduce the different participants in the
context of the SUMP-process to the complexity of forecasts and the development of underlying
scenarios. The simulation game refers to step 3.2 of the SUMP-process (Rupprecht Consult 2011
p.13). With the help of the game, all participants will gain a deeper understanding of the
scenarios’ developments and the integration of complex influential parameters into the scenarios
will also be increased.
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Content and Structure
In the context of this game, the following three categories are considered more closely: general
conditions, lifestyle and mobility/transport offers. The simulation game is supposed to serve as an
introduction to the discussion of different development possibilities. That is why the development
possibilities given as options in the game have been derived, completed and generalized based on
results of various studies.
Basis of the simulation game is a schematical illustration of a city, consisting of 10 areas. Each
area represents either the functional part of a city (e. g. industry) or a certain supply of mobility or
transport (e. g. public transport) and is equipped with one or two question marks. Each question
mark corresponds with one mobility-related issue. Circumstances cannot or can only be
marginally influenced (e.g. the demographic change) and are therefore easier to predict.
Discussed measures can be influenced by political decisions and are therefore difficult to predict
(e.g. car tolls). Both factors are of great importance for the future development of mobility and
transport demand, which is why they are included in the simulation game. In contrast to the
general conditions of the population’s development, the general conditions of the category
CIVITAS DYN@MO
SIMULATION GAME
„mobility and transport supply“ are very closely connected to political actions, so here the
predictability still has its limits. Nevertheless, in order to develop scenarios it is necessary to make
certain assumptions. It is all the more important that participants of the planning process know
which general conditions are given in each scenario and that they also support these conditions.
Only then, the results, which base on the respective scenarios and were included into the
development process, can be evaluated and taken into account appropriately.
On basis of the chosen thesis, the image of the town will change after completing the game. Every
player’s selection of issues will be saved and can be used for evaluation afterwards. So as a result
of the simulation game, „majority scenarios“ can be introduced in the SUMP-process and can be
discussed furtherly.
The different types of mobility supply are represented by the following objects and can change
due to the given issues:
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Zebra crossings and bicycle paths: Share of pedestrian and bicycle traffic
Brown cars: share of cars with conventional drives
Green cars : availability and share of electro mobility
Blue cars : availability and share of new mobility concepts
Buses : share of public transport
Lorries: share of freight transport
How to use the simulation game
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The simulation game is available on the following website:
http://www1.isb.rwth-aachen.de/simulationgame
After a short introduction you are asked to enter your socio-demographic data. This
information is only used for evaluation and interpretation of the results.
After entering the requested data, please press the start button. It will lead you to
the first screen where you can start the game.
Each of the 10 areas represents either the functional part of a city (e. g. industry) or
a certain supply of mobility or transport (e. g. public transport) and is equipped with
one or two question marks. Each question mark corresponds with one mobilityrelated issue.
Please click on the question mark and choose one thesis which you consider most
probable.
After choosing one thesis, the question mark turns into a green checkmark. This
gives you a good overview of the areas for which you have not selected an issue yet.
To see which issue you have chosen in one area or to change this issue, simply click
on the green checkmark again.
After answering every question (every area has a green checkmark) just click on the
“show result” button. Your selected issues will be saved.
The game then creates a scenario on the basis of your given answers and the picture
of the town will change according to your chosen theses. In addition to the graphical
change a written explanation will pop up on the margin of the game.
If you feel like changing one of your chosen issues, feel free to do so and see how
your town will change. Simply click on the green checkmark, change your issue and
press the “show result” button. Your originally chosen issues will not be overwritten.
CIVITAS DYN@MO
SIMULATION GAME
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If you wish to create a new scenario, just click the restart button. You will
automatically return to the first screen.
LITERATURE
Rupprecht Consult (2011) Guidelines: Developing and implementing a sustainable urban mobility
plan; Cologne