Penang Smart Mobility Micro-Simulation Model Development

Penang, the thriving arts and culture hub of Malaysia, is aspiring to become a vibrant smart state by 2030. With the Penang Smart Mobility Micro-Simulation Model Development project, the city council will be able to assess the potential impacts of developer plans and transport interventions so as to protect its historic centre, ensure inclusive mobility, and cultivate a strong sense of place.

The development of Penang is driven largely by Penang 2030, an institutional plan to achieve a “family-focused green and smart state that inspires the nation”. One of its four themes focuses on investing in the built environment to improve resilience, under which there are four strategic initiatives:

• balance development through effective spatial planning
• strengthen mobility, connectivity and digital infrastructure
• integrate municipal services with smart technologies, and
• implement climate change adaptation plans.

The Penang Smart Mobility Micro-Simulation Model Development project of the ASEAN Australia Smart Cities Trust Fund (AASCTF) contributes to all these four initiatives, particularly via the second. The project was borne out of the need to manage growth and reduce congestion in Penang, especially in George Town, the state capital with an urban core that is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Existing studies, such as the Penang Transport Masterplan 2030 and the Penang Green Transport Plan, helped inform the project’s development and implementation.

Creating a micro-simulation model in two stages

Ramboll was engaged by AASCTF, collaborating closely with the City Council of Penang Island (MBPP) and Digital Penang, the state’s digitalisation agency, to develop a micro-simulation model in two stages. First, a model was piloted for a small area in George Town to demonstrate proof of concept and the benefits for master planning and evaluating transport solutions. Second, the model was expanded to cover the full UNESCO heritage site.

In both stages there are four main steps: data collection, model development, model calibration, and scenario testing. Crucial to this simulation process was gathering the capacity, demand, and GPS (global positioning system) data, as well calibrating the model to get accurate results. Under Stage 2, additional traffic surveys were conducted to account for possible deviation in traffic volume right after the COVID-19 movement restrictions, which is when Stage 1 traffic surveys were conducted. With this greater breadth, the model was used to test scenarios on improving traffic management and public transport, providing priority pedestrian and cycling corridors in the core area of George Town, and removing on-street parking in certain areas of the city.

Results from the testing will enable recommended changes for Penang’s Traffic Impact Assessment guidelines and other policies.

Raising local capacity to ensure sustainability

To strengthen ownership and encourage long-term use of the model, the project includes software training for selected local staff.

The training covers the basics of microscopic traffic modelling and mesoscopic simulation and dynamic assignment for modelling larger networks. By building capacity, these new superusers can then share their knowledge with peers and colleagues. This will not only help with analysing transport strategies and solutions, but it will also enable MBPP to present such issues and impacts with other stakeholders and the public for a more open and participatory urban governance.

Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals

The project contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 Good health and wellbeing, 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, and 13 Climate action.

The AASCTF assists ASEAN cities in enhancing their planning systems, service delivery, and financial management by developing and testing appropriate digital urban solutions and systems. By working with cities, AASCTF facilitates their transformation to become more liveable, resilient, and inclusive, while in the process identifying scalable best and next practices to be replicated across cities in Asia and the Pacific. The Trust Fund is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, managed by the Asian Development Bank, and implemented by Ramboll.