Selecting the right software for vertical transportation design is a decision that has long-term consequences for the quality and efficiency of a practice’s lift design work. The range of available tools spans from basic calculation spreadsheets that automate hand-calculation methods through to fully integrated simulation platforms with expert system optimisation, 3D visualisation, and BIM output capabilities. Understanding the differences between these tool categories — and knowing which capabilities are genuinely necessary for the type of work a practice undertakes — is the foundation of a well-informed software selection.
Professional traffic analysis software for vertical transportation goes beyond basic calculation to provide simulation-based performance modelling that reflects the actual complexity of multi-lift systems under varied demand conditions. This article examines what distinguishes the different categories of lift design tool and what building professionals should consider when evaluating their options.
The Spectrum of Lift Design Tools
At the simplest end of the spectrum sit calculation-based tools that automate the standard hand-calculation methods documented in CIBSE Guide D and equivalent international references. These tools accept basic building parameters — number of floors, floor population, lift specifications — and apply the standard traffic formulas to produce handling capacity and average waiting time estimates. They are fast, transparent, and sufficient for initial feasibility work on straightforward standard-profile buildings.
Their fundamental limitation is the accuracy ceiling imposed by the simplifying assumptions built into the underlying calculation methods. Simplified traffic calculations assume uniform floor populations, a single entry floor, and a conventional group control system operating under standard traffic conditions. When the actual building deviates from these assumptions — as many real buildings do — the calculations become progressively less reliable as a basis for final design decisions.
At the more sophisticated end sit simulation-based platforms that model the behaviour of the lift system directly, tracing individual passenger journeys through a statistical representation of the building population to produce performance statistics that reflect the actual system behaviour. CIBSE’s Guide D4: Lift Traffic Design Using Simulation provides the definitive current guidance on simulation-based lift traffic design, documenting the methodology, the performance criteria, and the professional standards that simulation work should meet.
Key Capabilities to Evaluate
When evaluating traffic analysis software and lift software platforms, the following capabilities are the most significant differentiators between tools at different levels of sophistication:
- Simulation engine quality: the accuracy of the underlying simulation model determines the reliability of the performance predictions. A simulation engine that has been validated against real building performance data, and that correctly models the behaviour of different control system types including destination dispatch, provides a more reliable basis for design decisions than one that uses simplified approximations
- Building type coverage: the software should handle all the building types relevant to the practice’s work, applying the appropriate traffic parameters and performance criteria automatically for each type rather than requiring manual configuration
- Expert system functionality: the ability to optimise the lift configuration automatically, rather than requiring the user to specify and evaluate configurations iteratively, is a significant productivity advantage and typically produces better design outcomes by exploring a broader range of potential solutions
- Visualisation capability: 3D traffic visualisation is increasingly expected by clients and planning authorities as a way of demonstrating system performance intuitively; software that provides this without requiring a separate visualisation tool streamlines the workflow considerably
- BIM/IFC output: the ability to export lift system geometry in IFC format for incorporation into the project’s BIM environment eliminates manual re-entry of dimensional data and reduces coordination errors between the lift design and the overall building model
- Reporting quality: professional-grade automated reporting that produces client-ready documentation directly from the analysis results, including the building parameters, performance criteria, configurations evaluated, and predicted performance, saves significant time compared to manually assembling reports from raw analysis outputs
Cloud-Based vs. Installed Software
The shift from installed desktop software to cloud-based platforms has changed the economics of professional lift design software significantly. Cloud-based tools typically offer subscription pricing that makes professional-grade simulation accessible at any project scale, rather than requiring a substantial upfront licence investment that could only be justified for practices with high volumes of lift design work.
Cloud-based platforms also provide the advantage of automatic updates, ensuring that the software always reflects the current state of the simulation algorithms, performance criteria, and standards references without requiring the practice to manage software upgrades. Accessibility from any device with a browser connection, rather than a specific installed workstation, provides workflow flexibility that is increasingly valued as professional practice becomes more mobile.
Making the Selection Decision
The right software selection depends on the scale and complexity of the lift design work the practice undertakes. For practices that primarily work on straightforward standard-profile buildings and use lift analysis primarily for feasibility and specification support, a well-implemented simulation platform with good automated reporting may be sufficient. For practices that regularly work on complex, mixed-use, or high-rise buildings, the expert system, destination dispatch modelling, and visualisation capabilities of the most sophisticated platforms are not optional enhancements but essential tools.
A trial period with a shortlisted platform — testing its performance on a real project rather than a synthetic demonstration scenario — is the most reliable way to evaluate whether a particular tool meets the practice’s actual requirements. The quality of the support and documentation that accompanies the software is also worth evaluating, as the learning curve for simulation-based analysis is steeper than for calculation-based tools and good learning resources make a significant difference to the time taken to become proficient.
Final Thoughts
The right traffic analysis software and lift design platform is one that matches the scope and complexity of the work it is used for, provides the simulation accuracy needed for reliable design decisions, and integrates smoothly with the wider workflow of professional practice. For building professionals ready to evaluate their options, AdSimulo offers a comprehensive platform that covers the full range of capabilities from simulation and expert system optimisation to visualisation, automated reporting, and BIM output — all in a cloud-based environment accessible at any project scale.
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