Jaime Barceló
Departament d'Estadistica i Investigacio Operativa, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain

Panos G. Michalopoulos
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, USA

ITS Torino, 2000

INTRODUCTION

The need to simulate a number of advanced ITS concepts prior to deployment has necessitated development of high performance microscopic simulators for heuristic dynamic traffic assignment, freeway corridor diversion, driver information systems including variable message signs and vehicle guidance systems, real time adaptive traffic control systems and other traffic management concepts. These needs require treatment of time dependent origin destination information as well as a detailed modeling of merging, diverging, weaving, lane changing, turning and other behavioral characteristics reflecting real life driving conditions. These include the effects of geometric (curves, grades) slow moving vehicles, dynamic route choice and decision-making based on real time information. More detailed modeling is also needed for increasingly sophisticated adaptive traffic control concepts in freeway corridors and urban street networks. Of equal importance is the implementation of this modeling into traffic simulators that can be effectively used in practice. In this paper a microscopic model treating such complexities is presented along with the methodology for implementation. The modeling has been incorporated into a PC-based computer program called AIMSUN2 (1-2), developed as part of various projects funded through European ITS Programs. AIMSUN2 was implemented in numerous large cities in Europe (Barcelona, London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Milan and others), Australia and New Zealand (Auckland, Brisbane), South America (Santiago) and North America (Montreal). Since its introduction in 1989 the program underwent numerous tests, which resulted in substantial improvements. These improvements along with numerous recommendations from its current users (over 40 public agencies, Universities and consulting firms) are presented here along with test results from third parties. One of the most important features of the program is its interactive graphical user interface, which is based on modern CAD developments and human factors design that minimize the data entry effort, and increase the accuracy of the geometry description/representation. The program also includes a set of automatic debugging features, which make it attractive to the user. Other relevant features include the ability to communicate with almost any adaptive control system including actuated signals, and time varying O-D patterns. The latter are resulting from the driver�s need to select alternative routes in real time as traffic conditions change. Depending on the level of information available drivers can dynamically change the route en route. Simulation of such behavior caused by variable message signs or guidance systems is possible with AIMSUN2.

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