A GRAPHICS PROCESSOR FOR COMPARATIVE-STUDIES USING MICROSCOPIC TRAFFIC SIMULATION-MODELS

Computer traffic simulation models are valuable tools for the design a nd deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Simulations of traffic flow can be used for the analysis and assessment of potent ial ITS technologies. Using simulations, alternative systems can be te sted under identical conditions so the effects of oversaturated condit ions, spillback, queuing, and overlap ping bottlenecks can be measured . The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) microscopic traffic simula tion models, NETSIM, FRESIM, and CORSIM, are regarded as highly compre hensive but somewhat difficult to use. A graphics processor, TRAFVU, h as recently been developed for analyzing the output of these microscop ic models. TRAFVU was designed to support direct comparison of alterna tives to facilitate design and evaluation. Applications of the CORSIM traffic simulation model and the TRAFVU graphics processor to intercha nge design and developing incident management strategies are presented . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.