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Training courses

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, we have a training path for you: our highly qualified trainers give hands-on courses all over the world, ranging from core skills to advanced programming for research.

We also offer in-company training, and can customize course content to suit your needs.
Feedback for our training courses:

Practical information

We supply official certificates upon course completion.

Our training courses are taught online and in person, so hours can vary; see each individual course for daily start/finish times. 

Available course languages are English, French and Spanish.

Beginners: If you are a complete beginner, we strongly recommend that you take the time to run through the Aimsun Next tutorials beforehand to familiarize yourself with the software.

Registration fees include instruction, training materials and temporary licenses of Aimsun Next software.

Participants use their own laptops for the coursework unless advised otherwise. For online courses, a microphone and webcam are required.

Participants must have their web camera activated at all times. This is to ensure that they are present throughout the course so that the trainer can issue the certificate of completion in good faith at the end of the course. If the participant does not activate their webcam then Aimsun cannot issue a certificate.

Registration is subject to availability, and full payment must be received in advance of the course. We accept bank transfers and major credit cards.

Aimsun Next Training for Beginners

Our beginners’ courses for Aimsun Next are offered in three modules, usually together in the same week.

The courses recommended vary based on your Aimsun Next edition.

Core Skills

Our most popular training course, this is a thorough introduction to the fundamentals of building a model in Aimsun Next, with a focus on simulation at the microscopic level.

This course will take you all the way through the workflow of a typical project, from editing to traffic management, scenarios, outputs and calibration. There are hands-on exercises every step of the way to make sure you have mastered the basic concepts and you should finish this course ready to start experimenting with Aimsun Next software.

Online courses are only half a day 

Day 1

Editing exercises

  • Geometry
  • Signal plans
  • Public transport
  • Traffic demand

Day 2

Managing scenarios 

  • Dynamic scenarios, experiments and replications
  • Attribute overrides and geometry configurations

Day 3

Outputs

  • Output calculation
  • Time series, thematic maps
  • Scenario comparison

Dynamic traffic assignment

  • Cost functions
  • Stochastic route choice algorithm and parameters
  • Dynamic user equilibrium algorithm and parameters
  • Combining paths

Day 4

Dynamic traffic assignment

  • Analysing Path Assignment Outputs

Microscopic network loading

  • Microscopic vehicle behavior

Day 5

Microscopic network loading

  • Calibration of a microscopic model

Traffic management

  • Traffic management actions
  • Modeling incidents and mitigation strategies
  • Modeling turn restrictions, reversible lanes, and other scheduled events

In person courses are possible on request – please contact info@aimsun.com.

Day 1

Editing exercises

  • Geometry, signal plans, transit, traffic demand

Managing scenarios 

  • Dynamic scenarios, experiments and replications
  • Attribute overrides and geometry configurations

Day 2

Outputs

  • Output calculation
  • Time series, thematic maps
  • Scenario comparison

Dynamic traffic assignment

  • Cost functions
  • Stochastic route choice algorithm and parameters
  • Dynamic user equilibrium algorithm and parameters
  • Combining paths

Day 3

Microscopic network loading 

  • Microscopic vehicle behavior
  • Calibration of a microscopic model

Traffic management

  • Traffic management actions
  • Modeling incidents and mitigation strategies
  • Modeling turn restrictions, reversible lanes, and other scheduled events

Meso, Hybrid, Macro

Attendees must have previously attended the Aimsun Next Core Skills training course or already know how to edit a model, set up a scenario and experiment, and analyze the results.

This course zooms out from microscopic simulation to look at larger scale modeling. You’ll learn about the event-based mesoscopic model and how to combine it with a more detailed microsimulator.

Then you’ll get to experiment with static macroscopic modelling, which is often used as a preliminary step to dynamic modeling to extract the demand of a subarea from a regional model, to adjust and time-slice it, and to get an initial set of paths to warm-start dynamic assignment.

Online courses are only half a day 

Day 1

Mesoscopic network loading

  • Mesoscopic vehicle behavior
  • Calibration of a mesoscopic model
  • Hybrid microscopic-mesoscopic simulation

Day 2

Macroscopic modeling

  • Static traffic assignment
  • Traversal demand calculation
  • Demand adjustment

In person courses are possible on request – please contact info@aimsun.com.

Day 1

Mesoscopic network loading

  • Mesoscopic vehicle behavior
  • Calibration of a mesoscopic model
  • Hybrid microscopic-mesoscopic simulation

Macroscopic modeling

  • Static traffic assignment
  • Traversal demand calculation
  • Demand adjustment

Strategic Modeling

Attendees must have previously attended the Aimsun Next Core Skills training course or already know how to edit a model, set up a scenario and experiment, and analyze the results.

The Strategic Modeling course covers the traditional four-step modeling process of trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice, and trip assignment.

You should finish this course with an understanding of the role of travel demand modeling and forecasting within transportation planning and of the principles of each of the four modeling steps. You’ll build a practical case and experience how input data is used, and interpret the outputs from each step.

Online courses are only half a day 

Day 1

Strategic Modeling – the four-step model

  • Trip generation
  • Trip distribution
  • Modal Split
  • Static public transport assignment

Day 2

Strategic Modeling – the four-step model in practice

  • Exercise

In person courses are possible on request – please contact info@aimsun.com.

Day 1

Strategic Modeling – the four-step model
  • Trip generation
  • Trip distribution
  • Modal Split
  • Static transit assignment
  • Exercise

Pedestrian Simulation

Attendees must have previously attended the Aimsun Next Core Skills training course or already know how to edit a model, set up a scenario and experiment, and analyze the results.

This training course guides you through the process of simulating pedestrians in an Aimsun Next microscopic simulation. You’ll learn the basics of the social force model, how to put together all the required pieces to run a pedestrian simulation and how to manage pedestrian flows interacting with other road users in a truly multimodal way.

Next, you’ll master handling conflicts between pedestrians and motorized vehicles at signalized as well as unsignalized intersections. You’ll also learn how to make pedestrians use public transportation and how to model their choice between walking and taking public transportation. Finally, you will evaluate the pedestrian simulation, examine its different applications and learn how to extend the mobility modeling workflow (for example the possibility of using Dynamic Public Transport Assignment to get skims for the four-step model).

It’s important to note that the pedestrian model embedded in Aimsun Next is designed to increase the realism of urban studies modeling multimodal networks, so this training course is primarily aimed at practitioners and engineers with a strong focus on road networks. For modeling high-fidelity pedestrian flows inside terminals and other buildings, you’ll need to use Aimsun Next in conjunction with third-party tools, such as Legion’s pedestrian simulator.

Online courses are only half a day 

Day 1

  • Application of the pedestrian model
  • Preparing the model for pedestrian simulation
  • Interaction between pedestrians and motorized traffic
  • Interaction with public transportation
  • Model evaluation
  • Pedestrian skims for upper-level modeling

In person courses are possible on request – please contact info@aimsun.com.

Day 1

  • Application of the pedestrian model
  • Preparing the model for pedestrian simulation
  • Interaction between pedestrians and motorized traffic
  • Interaction with public transportation
  • Model evaluation
  • Pedestrian skims for upper-level modeling

Aimsun Next Training for Experienced Users

These are more advanced courses, designed for modelers who already have some practical experience.

Scripting

Scripting in Aimsun Next is a powerful means of modifying a model, importing or exporting data and calculating and displaying results. This course teaches you how Aimsun Next scripts can dramatically increase your efficiency, including a full day of hands-on exercises. To take this course you will need to already have a decent level of familiarity with Python and the concepts of programming.

Please note that this Scripting course does not cover the API module and functions – the key difference to remember is that Scripting allows you to make static changes before the simulation starts or after the simulation is finished, while with API, you can make dynamic changes while the dynamic simulation is running. If you need a custom training course with regard to API, please contact us directly at info@aimsun.com.

Online courses are only half a day 

Day 1

Introduction to Python

  • Variables & data types
  • Operations
  • Control flow statements
  • Defining a function

Introduction to scripting in Aimsun Next

  • Applications
  • Creating a script
  • Executing a script
  • Using the scripting documentation

Architecture of the Aimsun platform

Day 2

Scripting in Aimsun Next

  • Using the scripting documentation
  • Browsing the catalog
  • Editing the model
  • Error-checking inputs
  • Exporting data

Day 3

Scripting in Aimsun Next

  • Importing data
  • Running a simulation
  • Post-processing outputs
  • Customizing cost functions

In person courses are possible on request – please contact info@aimsun.com.

Day 1

Introduction to Python

  • Variables, data types and operations with them
  • Control flow statements
  • Defining a function

Introduction to scripting in Aimsun

  • Applications
  • Creating a script
  • Executing a script
  • Architecture of the Aimsun Platform

Day 2

Aimsun scripting in practice

  • Error-checking inputs
  • Post-processing outputs
  • Exporting data
  • Editing the model
  • Importing data
  • Running a simulation
  • Customising cost functions

Multi-tier & Calibration

If you are ready to start building more complex models that are on a larger scale and/or that integrate micro, meso and macro levels, then this is the course for you.

We’ll take you on a detailed walk-through of the methodology and workflow for complex projects with exhaustive tuition on calibration techniques, covering behavior parameters and route calculation, as well as real data comparison techniques.

Online courses are only half a day 

Day 1

Multi-resolution modeling

  • Macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic modeling approach
  • Hybrid simulation
  • Static and dynamic cost functions
  • Path calculation techniques
  • Demand preparation
  • Multi-resolution modeling project workflow

Day 2

Multi-resolution modeling

  • Exercise

Day 3

Advanced calibration of mesoscopic and microscopic models

  • Calibration workflow
  • Procedures to estimate calibration parameters from real data
  • Tips and techniques to troubleshoot calibration issues
  • Validation criteria
  • Importing real data
  • Statistic indicators to compare simulation outputs with real data

In person courses are possible on request – please contact info@aimsun.com.

Day 1

Multi-resolution modeling

  • Macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic modeling approach
  • Hybrid simulation
  • Static and dynamic cost functions
  • Path calculation techniques
  • Demand preparation
  • Multi-resolution modeling project workflow
  • Exercise

Day 2

Advanced calibration of mesoscopic and microscopic models

  • Calibration workflow
  • Procedures to estimate calibration parameters from real data
  • Tips and techniques to troubleshoot calibration issues
  • Validation criteria
  • Importing real data
  • Statistic indicators to compare simulation outputs with real data

Course Calendar

Request a new course

TBC

Course in English, Spanish or French

Location: Online

Time: Choose your time frame

Scripting

November 26 – 28, 2024

Course in English

Location: Online

Time: 10:00 – 14:30 (Barcelona, CET)

Meso, Hybrid, Macro

December 2 – 3, 2024

Course in English

Location: Online

Time: 10:00 – 14:00 (Australia, AEST)

Core skills

November 11 – 15 2024 

Course in English

Location: Online

Time: 10:00 – 14:30 (Australia, AEDT)

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Cite Aimsun Next

Aimsun Next 24

Aimsun (2024). Aimsun Next 24 User’s Manual, Aimsun Next Version 24.0.0, Barcelona, Spain. Accessed on: April. 16, 2024. [Online].

Available: https://docs.aimsun.com/next/24.0.0/

Aimsun Next 24

@manual {AimsunManual,
title = {Aimsun Next 24 User’s Manual},
author = {Aimsun},
edition = {Aimsun Next 24.0.0},
address = {Barcelona, Spain},
year = {2024. [Online]},
month = {Accessed on: Month, Day, Year},
url = {https://docs.aimsun.com/next/24.0.0},
}​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Aimsun Next 24

TY – COMP
T1 – Aimsun Next 24 User’s Manual
A1 – Aimsun
ET – Aimsun Next Version 24.0.0
Y1 – 2024
Y2 – Accessed on: Month, Day, Year
CY – Barcelona, Spain
PB – Aimsun
UR – [In software]. Available:
https://docs.aimsun.com/next/24.0.0/