Integration of Geographic Information System for Transportation with Real-Time Traffic Simulation System: Application Framework

Abstract

Real-time traffic information applications (RTIA) collect real-time traffic data from a wide variety of detectors. The problem with these applications is that they are complex and hard to maintain because of the large number of distributed detectors involved. However, it is well recognized that traffic simulation systems have the ability to improve the efficiency of traffic analysis, prediction, and control. This paper presents an application framework that integrates a real-time traffic simulation system with RTIA. Within this framework, a geographic information system for transportation (GIS-T) architecture, combined with a temporal–spatial database, provides a flexible way to present the real-time traffic information for road users. Several critical system components are introduced as well, including a real-time dynamic traffic data exchange model. The real-time simulation system, a static traffic model in GIS-T, and a Java-based application architecture are also briefly discussed.