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Simwalk FAQ
Welcome to the SimWalk Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. Questions by our customers are sampled here and constantly updated.
Installation | Simulation | Analysis
Installation
- I have downloaded SimWalk trial version and want to update to full version, how can I do this?
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- If I want to fill in my data and the license key in the installation window, clicking "Register" and "Install" command doesn' t work
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- I have installed SimWalk on my computer and now want to export/install it on another computer. Is this possible?
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- Is there a server license for SimWalk available?
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- How can I install the update program files that are sent with a new update?
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- How should I install the server clients?
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- I have a problem installing and activating the clients on the desktops using SimInstaller. It says "network is not enabled"?
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- Can you help me with the server installation?
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Simulation
- In an evacuation simulation, I have positioned waiting agents with the "Show pending agents in the start area" as obstacles for the evacuees. Yet they were overrun by the already moving evacuees. How can I model this scenario in SimWalk?
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- I have changed the number and behavior of agents, but this change doesn't show up during the simulation run. What do I have to do that the new properties are active?
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- How fast can I change the simulation layout in SimDraw and then proceed with a new simulation?
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- We have updated our spreadsheet that transforms the OD matrices. How can we import this data into SimWalk agent plans?
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- Is the "Status" window the same as the "Statistics" window? If so, could you explain what each column is reporting?
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- How does calculation time increase with the number of agents simulated?
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- I'm a bit confused about agent groups, agent plans, subgroups within a group etc.?
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- Starting SimWalk gives an error message "Cannot open a communication socket to database server at port 2015"?
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- What is the maximum agents breadth allowed? Why is it restricted?
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- What is the difference between Agent profile, Agent region and Agent activity? Do you save the the settings under a specific agent profile?
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- Currently, do gender, age or handicaps have any effect on agent characterstics?
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- Is there a possibility to type the Zoom in/out percentage number?
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- I can't find how to set a defined color for agent groups (and not the default setting that is their speed)?
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- During a simulation some agents disappeared suddenly before reaching the exit. Is there any explanation?
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- It would be a nice feature to be able to define dimensions (length of lines) via number input (as seen in AutoCAD). Is this something that has been considered in SimWalk?
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- I cannot import AutoCAD files in SimDraw. Is there a particular setting in AutoCAD to make files readable in SimDraw?
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- Should I delete all the text in the CAD file before I convert it?
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Analysis
- What is the difference between "simulation results" and "simulation statistics"?
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- What is the use of the so-called "Batch mode" in SimWalk?
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- I have got the impression that "trails" display mode slows the simulation speed? Is this true?
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- How can I create movies in SimWalk?
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- Is it possible to export a SimWalk simulation video into other movie formats, for example Windows Media movie?
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- What are the units of values reported in the database (speed, distance, runtime)?
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- What is the best format for snapshots?
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Answers:
Installation
To get full version license key of SimWalk you can proceed as follows:
Order a full version license key by selecting in SimWalk trial version "Help" menu / "Send order mail" and fill in your data and the respective license type (Professional/Educational) you wish to order. Send the e-mail.
We will send you a respective invoice, and upon payment we deliver the license key for the full version as well as additional files to upgrade the trial version to full version.
It is crucial that the installation file that you have received to upgrade SimWalk trial version is extracted into the SimWalk program folder that is created when installing SimWalk trial version. If this file is not positioned in the SimWalk program folder, the installation process may not work.
The SimWalk license key is machine specific and based on personal data. It is therefore not possible to transfer SimWalk, once installed, to another computer. On special request we may issue another license key to transfer SimWalk from one computer to another, if it is guaranteed that the first license is set inactive.
Yes, there is a SimWalk server license available, either single user or multi-user. SimWalk main software is installed on the server and can approached by user clients on different PCs.
Unzip the file, rename it from .bak to .exe and replace it in the SimWalk program folder. Please note that Windows sometimes tries to recreate the former installation files if the files are manually changed. Prevent this by pressing the "Cancel" button if the installation dialog should appear.
If SimWalk full version is running on your server, you are ready to install the clients the same way, but select the "Client" mode in the setup procedure. After a client is running in the trial version mode, you can go through the installatin procedure. The clients don't need a license key; they get the license information from the server. It's important that each client has a TCP/IP connectino over the socket port 2025 to the service "SimWalk Security Server" running on your server. Check that the firewall isn't blocking this port. After launching SimInstall.exe, you can select the server from the network list. Press "Server" button to test the communication with the server. It's recommended to just set up one client until all works fine. Set the user permission for all clients to access the SimWalk projects folder on the server (it's recommended to enable a drive letter like 'S:/').
Use the SimWalk Installer on each client to enable the full version of SimWalk. You have to enter exactly the same license data I sent you (see below) for every client. But on the client side, you have to select the servers host name. Press the "Test" button to check the communication with the SimWalk Security Server running on the host. There is no limitation in client installations, but the simultaneous work is limited to the number of users you have purchased.
Please regard the following recommendations: 1) Enable the port 2025 on the servers firewall, 2) Assign a network letter (e.g. S:/) to connect the projects folder in the clients Options settings instead of using the double slash notation (like//AU-SYD-UTL02), 3) Keep in mind that in a network installation the simulation will slow down depending on the network speed because the database server writes all simulation data to the DB over LAN/WAN, 4) We recommend always to work on a local projects folder and moving the projects data later to the server, 5) Use SimControl.exe tool to check/control the security server service and generate a system diagnostic report if there are any problems.
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Answers:
Simulation
Agents displayed during the simulation run based on the "Show pending agents in the start area" are only visually active. They do not act as obstacles for moving agents in the simulation. If you would like to model this situation, you may use "Waiting area" functionality. Agents waiting based on this functionality are obstacles for respective evacuees during the simulation run.
If you have changed any parameter of agent groups you have to save and rebuild the agents again with "Build" functionality. Only then new properties are stored and made active for a simulation run.
To change an existing layout fast and efficiently during a simulation run, select "View project drawing" and the respective layer you would like to change. Click on the pencil icon and the drawing opens in SimDraw. Add changes to the plan and save them. When you close SimDraw, the new plan will automatically be imported for further simulation studies.
Please note the following guidelines if you import data from an external file:
- Parameter table data can be imported/exported from/to Excel tables (.xls) or ASCII text files (.txt, .csv = Comma separated values) but not Unicode!
- - All cell data - also numeric values - must be formatted as text
- - Floating point values must have the format "%.2f" like "123.45" (m or yd)
- - Thousand separator must be empty and decimal separator must be a dot (.)
- - Object coordinates (start areas, stairs, gates...) are in metric or imperial units with 2 decimal digits interpreted as meter or yards depending on active settings
- - Agent template times are in milliseconds (ms) and must not exceed 48 hours
- - TIP: Prior to an import, make a data export to get an Excel sheet in the correct format.
The "Status" window is the former "Statistics" window, but the functionalities are still the same. You may hide/show the window using Settings window. The meaning is the following: In the rows you see your waypoints that depend on the "Agents color" settings in the configuration. If you select "Last exit point", the rows show only the exit points and colors. If you select "Next waypoint", then also the waiting points are shown. The color depends on the next waypoint the agents are approaching (either waiting or exit area). The first row is the summary (total) of all agents. In the columns you see the state of the agent groups:
Pending: Not yet started (still inactive).
- Active: The start time is reached and 1 or more agents are activated.
- Moved: The number of agents that have moved (walked) at the last time step.
- Waiting: Number of agents that wait in one of the waiting areas (ruby-colored).
- Speed: (m/s) or (ft/s) = Average speed of all moved agents in the agent group.
- Done: Number of agents that have reached its exit point.
With the current algorithm the calculation time increases exponentially with the number of agents N - it's proportional to NxN. Of course processor speed (clock rate) and memory have also a decisive effect.
The agent plan defines the whole simulation timing (start time and position, waypoints and waiting times as well as exit points) and agent parameters (initial speed, breadth, height etc.) for each agent. There can only be one agents plan (plan.swt) for a specific simulation run after building. All parameters from the Agents Plan Builder are managed in so called templates (e.g. 'agent_01.xml) that can be loaded, edited and stored. A template is is the base to build an agents plan. NOTE: Each agent plan build process using the same template will generate different results in the plan file because of the randomly distributed parameters. To get statistically meaningful simulation results, it's recommended to make several run passes. After each run pass, the plan will be re-built automatically to set new start conditions (no agent has exactly the same settings as before) for the next simulation run.
Probably the program was not closed in a proper way and the socket port is still open. In this case, a restart of the program solves the problem in most cases. If not, reboot the computer. You can also change the port number in the Options settings to e.g. 2016 and then restart the program.
The body breadth is limited because the values you can set in the Profiler are the mean values and the standard deviation for a normal (Gaussian) distribution. Only 68% of the agents are in the given limits, but 16% are smaller and 16% are larger. These settings characterize the statistical average best. The body breadth settings are not intended to simulate handicaps like baggage or wheelchairs.
In the Agents Plan Builder, Formation Builder, and Agents Profiler you can select a predefined profile from a file called "defaults.swc". Currently there are a few profiles as examples (e.g. Commuters). You can create your own profiles using the Agents Profiler. You can either select a predefined profile from the selection list (left/bottom) and then alter one or more settings or you build a new one. The selections Agents region and Agents activity loads some predefined settings which vary with region and planned activity. Now you have to adjust these settings (if you wish) and enter a new name in the left/bottom box to save it in the "defaults.swc".
Gender parameters, age, priority, and handicap (as well as the ambient temperature in the Configuration settings) have an influence on walking speed and body dimensions (breadth and height).
You have basically two options next the zoom in/out buton to zoom into the drawing: 1) Use the right mouse button to open a menu with zoom items, 2) Use the zoom area button to select an area to zoom in - zoom percentage will be shown wile dragging the mouse cursor. You can reset to the last zoom factor by double-clicking into the zoom control.
After you have opened your project, you can set the agents color mode in the Configuration. The shape and colors of agent groups are defined in the Options.
SimWalk integrates an "Unblock agents" functionality in the configuration where you may adjust the unblocking/disappearing of blocked agents. You can extend the settings up to 250 steps. Set the value to 0 to disable the unblocking function.
Yes, after selection of the line, rectangle or ellipse drawing tool, you may double-click into the drawing area to place a shape at that position and entering the dimension (in the desired unit) using Draw Shape dialog.
Save/export your drawing as an AutoCAD R12 file. This is an older but widely used DXF format, supported by most CAD software tools and converters.
Yes, it's recommended to simplify the CAD drawings.
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Answers:
Analysis
"View simulation results" only displays graphical or written simulation outputs, for example density pictures taken during the simulation or videos of agent trails. "View simulation statistics" displays numerical results of agents, e.g. average speed, delays etc.
"Batch mode" is an important feature in simulation practice. Since it is the goal of every simulation study to get statistically significant output data and averages, batch mode or running of multiple simulation runs with different start parameters is a crucial feature to get these results. Batch mode allows to run different simulation runs (1, 2& x) where for example the start location and the body diameter of the agents are different for each run and averages of output data can be analyzed in SimAnalyse module or exported to Excel.
In fact ,"trails" visualization, that displays the walking paths of pedestrians, is very performance intensive and needs the most computer capacity of all display modes (agents, density, trails). If you want to enhance trails visualization, select already existing simulation runs with "Run an existing simulation" .
"You have 3 possibilities to view SimWalk movies without SimWalk installation:
- 1) You may use the free stand-alone application SimView.exe to view your swm file. This application is small and can easily be sent by e-mail to another person who hasn't installed SimWalk. SimView application is available in the SimWalk program folder.
- 2) You may rename your .swm to .gif file and import it into Microsoft PowerPoint as a graphic file and then run the presentation.
- 3) You may rename your .swm file to .gif file and use a video file converter to obtain a different format (e.g. search the Internet
with keywords "gif to mpeg" or "gif to mpeg".
The database units are in the metric (SI) system. All times are in cs (1/100s) and all positions and distances are in cm (1/100m).
SimWalk Picture (SWP) and PNG images have the following advantages: 1) Small size (advantage over BMP), 2) Not limited to 256 colours (advantage over .gif), 3) Lossless compression (advantage over JPEG), 4) Semi-transparency (advantage over all former formats), 5) No license. All snapshot formats are supported and can be viewed with the free SimWalk Viewer (SimView.exe).
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