Intelligence in traffic simulation model: Modeling congested network

Issue title: Selected papers from the 9th International Multi-Conference on Engineering and Technology Innovation 2019 (IMETI2019)

Guest editors: Wen-Hsiang Hsieh

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ko, Joonho^a | Cho, Hyun Woong^b | Kim, Jung In^c | Kim, Hyunmyung^d | Lee, Young-Joo^e | Suh, Wonho^{f; *}

Affiliations: [a] Graduate School of Urban Studies, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea | [b] Virginia Transportation Research Council, Charlottesville, VA, USA | [c] Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong | [d] Department of Transportation Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin, Republic of Korea | [e] Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea | [f] Department of Smart City Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA Campus, Hanyangdaehak-Ro, Sangnok-Gu, Ansan, Republic of Korea

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors. Wonho Suh, Department of Smart City Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA Campus, 55 Hanyangdaehak-Ro, Sangnok-Gu, Ansan, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 31 400 5154; Fax: +82 31 436 8147; E-mail: wonhosuh@hanyang.ac.kr.

Abstract: Traffic simulation tools are becoming more popular as complexity and intelligence are growing in transportation systems. The need for more accurate and intelligent traffic modeling is increasing rapidly as transportation systems are having more congestion problems. Although traffic simulation models have been continuously updated to represent various traffic conditions more realistically, most simulation models still have limitations in overcapacity congested traffic conditions. In traditional traffic simulation models, when there is no available space due to traffic congestion, additional traffic demand may never be allowed to enter the network. The objective of this paper is to investigate one possible method to address the issue of unserved vehicles in overcapacity congested traffic conditions using the VISSIM trip chain. The VISSIM trip chain is used for this analysis as it has the advantage of holding a vehicle without eliminating it when traffic congestion prevents its entrance onto a network. This will allow the vehicle to enter when an acceptable gap becomes available on the entry link. To demonstrate the difference between the simulation using standard traffic input and the trip chain method, a sample congested traffic network is built and congested traffic scenarios are created. Also, simulations with different minimum space headway parameters in the priority rules are analyzed to model congested traffic conditions more realistically. This will provide the insight about the sensitivity of the model to this parameter. Based on the analysis conducted it is concluded that, with appropriate calibrations, the trip chain feature in VISSIM has the potentials to be useful in modeling overcapacity congested traffic conditions more realistically.

Keywords: Traffic simulation environments, traffic congestion modeling, intelligence of traffic simulation, simulation analysis, network simulation

DOI: 10.3233/JIFS-189614

Journal: Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 7917-7923, 2021