Introduction

This document provides a brief description of the enhancements included within each new release of the software.

Release 12.0.0: May 15, 2023

This section outlines some of the major changes in the initial release of Synchro Studio 12.  A comprehensive list of changes from Synchro Studio 11 to the initial release of Synchro Studio 12 can be found in the Getting Started and What's New in Version 12 document.

  1. Enhanced Scenario Manager – Synchro 12 introduces an enhanced Scenario Manager that enables users to save multiple scenarios with varying geometries to a single Synchro file to efficiently track each alternative. 
    1. Enhanced Scenario Manager allows multiple scenarios to be saved in a single Synchro file with different geometry, volumes & timings, resulting in a reduced number of Synchro files needed for the same network/project.
    2. Geometry can now be changed for each scenario individually.
    3. SimTraffic has been updated to support multiple scenarios with different geometries.
    4. Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) also supports scenarios with different geometries.
    5.  The Scenario Manager window has been revamped to provide a fresh appearance and user-friendly controls.
  2. HCM 7th Edition – Synchro 12 supports the signalized intersection, all-way stop control (AWSC), two-way stop control (TWSC), and the roundabout methods.
    1. The HCM 7th Edition Settings pane includes three expandable sections: Signal Timing Details, Adjusted Flow Rate, and Ideal Saturated Flow. The most commonly used parameters are viewable with all sections collapsed, with additional details about the intersection available by expanding one or more of these section(s).
    2.  A new field is available for signalized intersections to input the proportion of Connected Automated Vehicles (CAVs) in the traffic stream.
    3. New base saturation flow rates have been added to the signalized intersection analysis to account for CAVs for through movements.
    4. Modifications were made to the lane width adjustment factor to account for proportion of CAVs.
    5. New saturation flow adjustment factors have been added to the signalized intersection analysis to account for CAVs for protected & permitted left turns.
    6. A new field is included for the roundabouts to enter the proportion of CAVs in the traffic stream.
    7. New fields are included for the roundabouts to introduce intercept parameters & slope parameters to account for the proportion of CAVs.
    8. Modifications were made to the capacity adjustment factor to account for the proportion of CAVs for roundabouts.
    9. Modifications were made to the equation for calculating Minor-Street Left-Turn Movements for TWSC intersections.
    10. Control Delay & Rank 4 Capacity for One-Stage Movements equations have been modified for TWSC intersections. 
    11. For TWSC intersections, the new equation was introduced to model Compute Flared Minor-Street Lane Effects.
    12. Corrections were made to the calculation of Effect of Major-Street Shared Through and Left-Turn Lane and Potential Capacity, accounting for the effect of platooning for TWSC intersections.
  3. Ribbon Bars – The Synchro user interface has been updated, featuring new buttons with easy-to-use ribbon bar controls.
    1. Buttons under mapping groups were reorganized.
    2. A new group was introduced to combine all HCM methodologies under one group and an HCM 7th Edition button was added as well.
    3. All icons in Synchro, SimTraffic, and 3D Viewer have been modernized.
  4. Data Entry Grids – The data entry grids in Synchro & SimTraffic were updated to exhibit a modern look & feel with easy-to-use controls.