Elevator traffic calculation is useful for understanding core capacity drivers. Simulation adds dynamic passenger behavior. Multi-run simulation helps show how much results vary when random demand changes between runs.
Three methods, three different questions
Calculation
Fast capacity checks and early sizing review.
Use calculation to review RTT, interval, handling capacity, and core capacity drivers under explicit building and elevator assumptions.
Simulation
Dynamic passenger behavior and complex scenarios.
Use simulation when arrivals, queues, dispatch behavior, traffic patterns, zoning, or passenger-experience metrics can affect the decision.
Multi-run simulation
Variability and close alternative comparison.
Use multi-run simulation when stochastic demand and random seeds can influence whether one alternative is meaningfully different from another.
Calculation is a fast starting point
Calculation helps teams review the main capacity mechanics of an elevator group. Metrics such as RTT, interval, and handling capacity can explain whether a configuration is plausible before the study moves into more complex passenger behavior.
Those metrics are useful, but they are not the whole service picture. If a decision depends on queues, waiting time, journey time, dispatch, zoning, or tail behavior, simulation should be used to add context.
When simulation adds decision value
Simulation becomes more useful when a single average calculation does not represent the way passengers arrive, queue, board, transfer, and complete trips over time.
- The study includes mixed, interfloor, down-peak, or custom traffic.
- The building has multiple entrances, basements, service zones, or transfer floors.
- Passenger waiting time, journey time, queues, or tail behavior matter to the decision.
- The alternatives are close enough that one simulation run may not be representative.
- Dispatch, destination control, or zoning assumptions materially affect the result.
Why one simulation run may not be enough
Passenger arrivals and destinations can vary from one run to another. A single run may make one alternative look better or worse than it would across repeated runs. Multi-run simulation helps teams review average behavior and variability before treating a small difference as meaningful.
When a study reports confidence intervals or similar statistical summaries, they should be tied to multiple independent runs and interpreted with the study assumptions in view.
Read methods through the same assumptions
The useful comparison is not calculation versus simulation in isolation. It is how each method responds to the same building, demand, elevator setup, and reporting context. VT Planner keeps runs, charts, assumptions, and report outputs tied to the project so teams can compare alternatives without losing the study context.
Related method-selection resources
Connect method selection with metric definitions, simulation context, group sizing, analysis documentation, results, and report examples.
Calculation vs simulation FAQ
Is calculation or simulation better for elevator traffic studies?
Neither method is universally better. Calculation is useful for fast capacity checks and early sizing. Simulation is useful when dynamic passenger behavior, queues, dispatch, zoning, or passenger-experience metrics affect the decision.
When should I use multi-run simulation?
Use multi-run simulation when random passenger arrivals or destination choices could change the apparent result, especially when comparing close alternatives.
Can handling capacity alone decide an elevator design?
No. Handling capacity is a useful capacity metric, but it should be read with interval, waiting time, journey time, queues, percentiles, assumptions, and professional review.
Does simulation guarantee a correct final design?
No. Simulation provides decision support under explicit assumptions. Results should be reviewed in context by qualified professionals.
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