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PTV Vistro

Web and Video Training

Welcome to the PTV Vistro Web and Video Training page. This page consists of video tutorial modules that will help you discover the features and workflows inside PTV Vistro - and most importantly, help you enhance your Clients' deliverables.

Click here to head back to the Feature Learning Center.

Are you new to Vistro or a long-time user? We’ve got you covered either way. This series will have something for everyone - and you will be able to find the right Vistro video that fits your needs.

PTV Talks: Vistro Basics Series

The PTV Talks PTV Vistro Basics series focus on more detailed modules to get you started.  These are live webinars that have been recorded with questions and answers.

Part 1: PTV Vistro Basic - Model Setup

This first PTV Talks webinar focuses on the basics of:

  1. Adding Intersections
  2. Basic Intersection Geometry
  3. Entering Existing Volumes
  4. Creating Signalization
© PTV Group

Part 2: PTV Vistro Basics - Traffic Control Workflows and Scenario Manager

This PTV Talks webinar focuses on the traffic control workflows and scenario manager in PTV Vistro.

It covers:

  1. Coding & Evaluation of Signals
  2. All-Way Stops, Two-Way Stops & Roundabouts
  3. Setting Up and Managing Multiple Scenarios
  4. Basic reporting
© PTV Group

Part 3: PTV Vistro Basics - Traffic Signal Optimization

This PTV Talks webinar focuses on traffic signal optimization in PTV Vistro. It covers:

  1. Traffic Signal Setup and Geometry Refresher
  2. Global Settings for Optimization
  3. Traffic Control Workflow's Intersection Settings
  4. Local Signal Optimization
  5. Coordination Groups
  6. Network Signal Optimization
  7. Time-Space Diagrams
© PTV Group

Part 4: PTV Vistro Basics - Multimodal

This PTV Talks webinar focuses on features in PTV Vistro.

It covers:

  • Pedestrian Analysis using HCM
  • Bicycle Analysis using HCM
  • Transit Affects using HCM and CCG
  • Cycle Tracks Coding and Analysis
  • Delayed Vehicle Green/LPI
  • Exclusive Pedestrian Phase
© PTV Group

Part 5: PTV Vistro Basics - Traffic Impact Analyses and Studies

This PTV Talks webinar focuses on features in PTV Vistro.

It covers:

  • Introduction to Transportation Impact Analysis Applications
  • Scenario Planning
  • Existing Conditions
  • Background Traffic Conditions
  • Development Trip Generation, Distribution, Assignment
  • Evaluation and Mitigation
  • Fair-Share Reporting
  • 11th Hour Changes
  • Other Extensions (Areawide, VMT, etc.)
© PTV Group

Part 6: PTV Vistro Basics - Alternative Intersections

This PTV Talks webinar focuses on modeling alternative intersection types in PTV Vistro and imported detailed model data into PTV Vissim for detailed microsimulation.  Also, this covers key PTV Vistro 2021 features that support alternative intersection modeling. 

It covers:

  • PTV Vistro 2021 New Features
  • Resources for Alternative Intersections
  • Modeling Tips
    • Understanding your analysis objectives
    • Identify building blocks
    • Placing building blocks
    • Modifying building blocks
  • Previews in Vissim

Visit the following links to learn more about alternative intersection designs discussed in this video:

© PTV Group

Part 7: PTV Vistro Basics - Merge and Update Tools and Teamwork in Vistro

This session covers:

How to merge models in PTV Vistro
- Easily combine small projects scattered across a city, to make one city-wide model.
- Convert competitor models into PTV Vistro, and stitch them together.
- Create and insert PTV Vistro templates and examples of complex intersections into any Vistro model to streamline efforts.

How to update models in PTV Vistro
- It's now possible to update base models and scenario data, such as signal timing, geometry and lane configurations, and volumes using an import update tool.
- This feature is great for updating peak period time-of-day information or updating base model data from a test scenario.
- With this tool, you can also convert a competitor's numerous time-of-day model files into one managed PTV Vistro model utilizing scenario management.

© PTV Group

Part 8: Evaluating Urban Street Design Concepts with PTV Vistro

Analysis of urban street design concepts and scenarios to balance the needs of bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, and motorists was presented using a case-study in Boulder, Colorado. PTV Vistro’s time-saving workflows and unparalleled network creation and configurations, along with its flexible and robust traffic signal optimization was also featured.

This session covers:

  • Exclusive and leading pedestrian phase crossings
  • One-way to two way conversion
  • Signal optimization Routes
  • Bicycle tracks and lanes,
  • HCM 6th Edition Bicycle analyses, and 
  • Road Diets.
© PTV Group

Part 9: Large Area Models with PTV Vistro

This session highlighted using PTV Vistro for larger area studies, including the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA’s) new county-wide Vistro model that includes over 250 signals!

View the presentation file.

This session covers:

  • Merge and Update features,
  • Team Sharing, and
  • Evaluation Screening.
© PTV Group

Part 10: What’s New in Vistro 2022 & HCM 7th Edition

This session This edition of PTV Talks presents the new features available in PTV Vistro 2022 including numerous Vissim integration improvements, as well as highlights the relevant updates to the signalized control, two-way stop, and roundabout methodologies in the soon to be released Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) 7th Edition, including modeling the effects of CAVs.

Click to view the presentation file.

© PTV Group

PTV Vistro Web Series

This web series is organized into short produced videos to highlight PTV Vistro's functionality and key features.  Use this series to find out what PTV Vistro has to offer.

Episode 1: PTV Vistro Overview

New to Vistro? No problem. In this video, we will start at the beginning with an all-encompassing snapshot of PTV Vistro's capabilities and answer the following questions:

  • What is PTV Vistro?
  • What does PTV Vistro do?
© PTV Group

Episode 2: Part II – GUI: Workflow Panel, Data Windows, and Keyboard Shortcuts

Have you experienced overwhelming and cluttered Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) that fill your whole monitor with confusing icons and endless ribbons? PTV Vistro gives you a sleek modern GUI with an intuitive workflow for optimal performance.

We will take you for a tour of Vistro’s well organized GUI in this two-part episode. Part I, we’ll be describing the powerful features on the menu bar, status bar, and main toolbars.

© PTV Group

Episode 3: Part I – Basic Network Setup: Global Parameters, Network Building, Intersection Setup

Time is money. PTV Vistro was developed specifically with this notion in mind. With Vistro you can effortlessly build a network of signalized and unsignalized intersections and roundabouts – and we’ll show you how.

In this two-part episode, we will show you the global settings, how to rapidly drop nodes and build a network, and features in the intersection setup workflow, all in Part 1.

© PTV Group