Different Approaches to the Multilane Traffic Simulation

Abstract

The paper deals with development of both macroscopic and microscopic approaches to the mathematical modeling of multilane vehicular traffic on city roads and highways. The macroscopic model considers synchronized traffic flow, uses the continuum approach and is based on the original quasi-gas-dynamic (QGD) system of equations. The distinguishing feature of the model is the variable transverse velocity reflecting the speed of lane changing. The numerical implementation is explicit, the similarity with kinetically consistent finite difference schemes is used. The microscopic model is based on the cellular automata theory and presents generalization of Nagel-Schreckenberg model to the multilane case. The computational domain is the 2D lattice where two directions correspond to the road length and width. The number of cells in the transverse direction corresponds to the number of lanes. Each cell of the lattice can be either empty or occupied by one vehicle. Such a model allows vehicles to change lanes and to overtake one another. The algorithm of cell state update is formed by two components: lane change (if it is necessary and possible), movement along the road by the rules of N-S model.