Microscopic Simulation Software Research Articles

Microscopic Simulation Model for Motorcycle Dominated Networks: A Case Study of a VISSIM Simulation Model for a Mixed Traffic Corridor

Microscopic traffic simulation packages, which were invented for car-based environments, have also been used for motorcycle-based environments. Because the interactions between several transport modes (e.g., buses, cars, and motorcycles) are different in these two environments, default parameters relating to these modes (e.g., acceleration, deceleration, speed) should be modified in the simulation of motorcycle-dominated networks. However, there seems to be very little evidence on the modification of these parameters in microscopic traffic simulation for these networks. To fill this gap in the literature, this research develops a VISSIM model (as one of the most appropriate microscopic simulation packages) for motorcycle-dominated mixed transport, which includes data collection, creation of a VISSIM model, and calibration and validation processes. For parameters which cannot be observed on-site, some values for each parameter are chosen based on the default values in VISSIM or local conditions. These values are then run in VISSIM models and tested in the calibration and validation processes to choose the values that best describe vehicle movements. By contrast, parameters that might be collected on-site are statistically analysed and inserted directly in to VISSIM. Acceleration and deceleration of motorcycles, the desired speed of car and bus, the desired speed of motorcycle, minimum lateral distance driving when overtaking vehicles on the same lane, and average standstill distance were applied for developing VISSIM models for a motorcycle-dominated mixed traffic corridor in Hanoi, Vietnam. Acceleration and deceleration surveys were carried out on-site by using the speed gun Stalker ATS. The results of statistical tests prove that the VISSIM models are sufficiently reliable to represent real traffic. Transport modellers can draw on the findings of this study. Desired acceleration and deceleration default values in VISSIM, which are for typical motorcycles used in Europe, should be replaced by local acceleration and deceleration rates. The methodology for developing a VISSIM model can be modified to suit other local motorcycle-dominated mixed traffic conditions.

Implementing Artificial Neural Network-Based Gap Acceptance Models in the Simulation Model of a Traffic Circle in SUMO

The impact of various operational and design alternatives at roundabouts and traffic circles can be evaluated using microscopic simulation tools. Most microscopic simulation software utilizes default underlying models for this purpose, which may not be generalized to specific facilities. Since the effectiveness of traffic operations at traffic circles and roundabouts is highly affected by the gap rejection–acceptance behavior of drivers, it is essential to accurately model drivers’ gap acceptance behavior using location-specific data. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an artificial neural network (ANN)-based gap acceptance model in SUMO, using its application programming interface. A traffic circle in New Jersey was chosen as a case study. Separate ANN models for one stop-controlled and two yield-controlled intersections were trained based on the collected ground truth data. The output of the ANN-based model was then compared with that of the SUMO model, which was calibrated by modifying the default gap acceptance parameters to match the field data. Based on the results of the analyses it was concluded that the advantage of the ANN-based model lies not only in the accuracy of the selected output variables in comparison to the observed field values, but also in the realistic vehicle crossings at the uncontrolled intersections in the simulation model.

Development of Traffic Delay and Queue Metamodel on Landslide Zone Based on Simulation Using VISSIM

Landslides occur due to instability in the soil triggered by vibrations, high rainfall and topographical conditions of an area. Landslide is a natural disaster that often occurs in West Sumatra. This landslide certainly has an impact on traffic around the area. Congestion is the impact caused by landslides due to falling chunks of material onto the road. Lack of traffic control during landslides makes travel ineffective and inefficient. Therefore, the traffic control and its impact on possible landslides were tested using a VISSIM microscopic simulation software by setting the queue and delay parameters as the outputs. Based on this output of simulations, the metamodel was developed using regression analysis. This model could be used to predict the queue and delay of traffic because of landslide at road network. Two traffic control conditions that were simulated, open and close lane is used if the width of the landslides covering the road is more than one lane. Two-way traffic control in landslide zone is used when the width of the landslides covering the road is less than one lane.

Merging and diverging operations: benchmark of three European microscopic simulation tools and comparison with analytical formulations

PurposeWe benchmark three European microscopic simulation software’s ability to reproduce congested patterns at merges and diverges by comparing their macroscopic outputs to validated analytical formulations. The capacity drop and, in the specific case of merges, the priority ratio are assessed. At the microscopic scale, the spatial distribution of lane changes at merges is examined.MethodA single reference state is built for all three simulation tools. A point-based diverge and an extended merge are reproduced in the simulation tools. Under traffic conditions ranging from free-flow to congestion, vehicles counts and vehicles trajectories are collected to compute the selected indicators, which help to conclude for the considered reference state.ResultsThe considered simulation tools correctly reproduce the merges and diverges elementary behaviors. However, their default configuration does not, entirely or partially, reproduce the traffic conditions induced by insertions and desertions as predicted by the analytical models.DiscussionThe study could be enriched by including the benchmark of other simulation tools. In addition, the networks studied are elementary and may not reflect completely the traffic situations encountered on the highways.

Optimization of DRT concepts using the SUMO simulation software: How can the service quality be improved?

Within the Reallabor project in Hamburg future digital mobility is being tested with the objective to enhance mobility and transport in a metropolitan region such as Hamburg towards environmental and climate friendly mobility. To fulfil this aim is necessary to not only focus on the central city, but also on the urban districts. Hence, with the help of the microscopic simulation software SUMO it was analysed how autonomous on-demand vehicles can be used in suburbs like Bergedorf to improve the connection of such suburban areas to the existing public transport system. The aim of the research was to find out what quality of service can be achieved with on-demand transport (DRT) in Bergedorf and how it can be optimised in terms of users. The paper will present the results of the simulation and the analysis of the results.

Modeling the potential impacts of automated vehicles on pollutant emissions under different scenarios of a test track

One of the significant sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions is the road transportation sector. These emissions are worsened by driving behaviors and network conditions. It is common knowledge that experienced and inexperienced drivers behave differently when operating vehicles. Given the same vehicle in a different timeframe, the drivers’ reactions to similar situations vary, which has a significant influence on the emissions and fuel consumption as their use of acceleration and speed differ. Because the driving patterns of automated vehicles are programmable and provide a platform for smooth driving situations, it is predicted that deploying them might potentially reduce fuel consumption, particularly in urban areas with given traffic situations. This study’s goal is to examine how different degrees of automated vehicles behave when it comes to emissions and how accelerations affect that behavior. Furthermore, the total aggregated emissions on the synthesized urban network are evaluated and compared to legacy vehicles. The emission measuring model is based on the Handbook Emission Factors for Road Transport (HBEFA)3 and is utilized with the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) microscopic simulation software. The results demonstrate that acceleration value is strongly correlated with individual vehicle emissions. Although the ability of automated vehicles (AVs) to swiftly achieve higher acceleration values has an adverse effect on emissions reduction, it was compensated by the rate of accelerations, which decreases as the automation level increases. According to the simulation results, automated vehicles can reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 38.56%, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 17.09%, hydrocarbons (HC) emissions by 36.3%, particulate matter (PMx) emissions by 28.12%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by 19.78% in the most optimistic scenario (that is, when all vehicles are replaced by the upper bound automated vehicles) in the network level.

Optimal Presignal Control for Two-Mode Traffic at Isolated Signalized Intersections

Delay imposed on buses is witnessed at isolated signalized intersections, as part of the delay is created due to bus and car interactions at the signalized approaches. Inexpensive solutions that do not involve new infrastructure are the most desired. Toward reducing person delay, presignal lights are installed at the upstream of the intersection. Presignal is a control tool that can manage the interaction and space conflict between cars and buses at the mixed lanes, located after the presignals, approaching the intersection. This paper presents an optimal presignal control policy that determines signal settings based on minimization of total person-time spent. The developed model is comprised of a simplified signalized intersection with one approach, where two presignal lights are located: one for bus lane and one for car lane. A continuous-time model is first developed to describe the queue dynamics for the mixed lanes after the presignals and the bus and car lanes before the presignals. The optimal solutions are derived analytically via the Pontryagin maximum principle, and the optimal presignal control policy is determined and synthesized. The derived analytical solutions are verified through the use of the optimal control software, DIDO, which uses an advanced optimization method and solves complex dynamic optimization problems without prior knowledge of the analytical computations or the solution. Several examples are used to test and analyze the derived solutions. Finally, the microscopic simulation software AIMSUN is used to test, assess, and evaluate the performance of the proposed optimal control policy in a more realistic traffic condition, where stochastic arrivals are incorporated. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2022.1172 .

Simulation-Based Evacuation System for Large-Scale Urban Road Network Considering Traffic Conditions

In case of an emergency, it is necessary to consider the impact of all traffic conditions on implementing the evacuation program accurately and reliably because there are still some private vehicles running in the evacuation area. To tackle this issue, this paper presents a large-scale simulation-based evacuation system from multiple evacuation depots to multiple safety depots considering traffic conditions, including three parts: traffic conditions acquisition, evacuation path planning, and microsimulation evaluation. Firstly, the traffic conditions related to link travel time between two points are estimated by considering private vehicles running on the road network and the rescue bus vehicles participating in the evacuation. A multi-path choice model for a dynamic time-varying network is then proposed, which might solve the evacuation paths with the minimum of evacuation time. Experimental results show that the proposed method could have higher accuracy than the traditional static path planning, as well as higher computational efficiency than the dynamic algorithm. Finally, the variable cell transmission model (VCTM) is improved to deduce the characteristics of evacuation traffic flow under the estimated traffic conditions, which can be used to recognize the bottlenecks in the road network and re-optimize traffic control measurements. The contrastive analysis results showed that the improved VCTM is in good agreement with the operation results of the popular microscopic simulation software VISSIM.

Unconventional Intersection Designs for Improving Traffic Operation Along Arterial Roads

The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of implementing four Unconventional Arterial Intersection Designs (UAIDs) including median U-Turn, Superstreet, Jughandle and Single Quadrant Intersection on a major arterial road using SYNCHRO microscopic simulation software. For this purpose, Wadi Saqra Signalized Intersection on Shaker Bin Zaid major arterial road in Amman, Jordan was selected. The simulation results showed that only the Jughandle improved the intersection Level of Service (LOS) slightly, F–E. Nevertheless, the intersection delay was significantly reduced by 64.81%, 76.6%, 91.28% and 75.60% on the proposed Median U-Turn, Superstreet, Jughandle and Single Quadrant unconventional intersection design, respectively. This indicated that these UAIDs don't perform well under heavy traffic volumes. Also, since the Jughandle was the only UAID which improved the LOS on the main intersection, the operational performance of Prince Shaker Bin Zaid arterial after implementing the Jughandle at the main intersection was evaluated including the main intersection: Wadi Saqra intersection, one prior to the main intersection and one after the main intersection. It was found that the use of the Jughandle increased the average travel speed by 35% and decreased the average stopped delay by 28.68% on the arterial road. Also, this paper evaluated the current transportation system and road user's attitude towards UAIDs' implementation through a questionnaire survey. The results indicated high acceptance of UAIDs. Finally, the construction cost for each UAID type was estimated. It was found that the Jughandle had the highest construction cost due to its high acquisition cost.

Calibration of micro-simulation model in assessment of passenger car exhaust emission during acceleration

In terms of simulation research, it is important to simulate real conditions as precisely as possible. This type of approach makes it possible to minimize the error in the obtained results. The dynamics of acceleration is one of the most important factors having a direct impact on fuel consumption and exhaust emissions from vehicles. The work was carried out with the use of PTV Vissim microscopic vehicle motion simulation software. The considerations were carried out on theoretical acceleration profiles with different dynamics values and the actual character of acceleration, recorded during road tests. The simulations were carried out for a car powered by spark-ignition and compression-ignition engines. The research showed that the calibration of the acceleration character of the vehicle in simulation tests may result in significant differences in obtained results of exhaust emissions.

A system-optimum approach for bus lanes dynamically activated by road traffic

In this paper, we investigate the performance of a bus lane that is (de)activated under specific road traffic and public transport conditions. More specific, the VISSIM microscopic simulation software along with VisVAP and EnViVer add-on modules were employed to represent the operation of a bus lane with intermittent use by cars in a highly congested arterial. We modelled various scenarios to determine the level of traffic volumes and bus service frequencies for which such bus lane concept would be effective. Empirical findings showed that when peak hour volumes range between 1000 and 2000 vehicles, the mixing of cars and buses on bus lanes may lead to a) serious reductions of vehicles’ queue lengths, b) significant decreases of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions derived from traffic flow and speed profile improvements and c) financial viability of the experiment. The joint use of bus lanes at 2000 vehicles per peak hour was highlighted as the most financially viable scenario. On the other hand, delays were comparatively increased due to the lower speed of cars which were moving onto the bus lane. Finally, our bus lane concept was not performed well under bus headways shorter than 2 min.

Adaptive Traffic Signal Control: Game-Theoretic Decentralized vs. Centralized Perimeter Control.

This paper compares the operation of a decentralized Nash bargaining traffic signal controller (DNB) to the operation of state-of-the-art adaptive and gating traffic signal control. Perimeter control (gating), based on the network fundamental diagram (NFD), was applied on the borders of a protected urban network (PN) to prevent and/or disperse traffic congestion. The operation of gating control and local adaptive controllers was compared to the operation of the developed DNB traffic signal controller. The controllers were implemented and their performance assessed on a grid network in the INTEGRATION microscopic simulation software. The results show that the DNB controller, although not designed to solve perimeter control problems, successfully prevents congestion from building inside the PN and improves the performance of the entire network. Specifically, the DNB controller outperforms both gating and non-gating controllers, with reductions in the average travel time ranging between and , total delay ranging between and , and emission levels/fuel consumption ranging between and . The results demonstrate statistically significant benefits of using the developed DNB controller over other state-of-the-art centralized and decentralized gating/adaptive traffic signal controllers.

Short-term Traffic Flow Prediction Based on Deep Learning Model

In order to improve the prediction accuracy of the intelligent transportation system and provide effective support for the dynamic control and guidance of the highway management department, with the goal of minimizing the short-term traffic flow prediction error, the long-term short-term memory (LSTM) model is trained, fitted and adjusted based on the deep learning framework. In addition, the established model is used to predict the short-term traffic flow of the expressway during holidays and working days. At the same time, the traffic flow was simulated by microscopic simulation software to further verify the feasibility of the LSTM algorithm.

A Simulation Approach for Optimising Energy-Efficient Driving Speed Profiles in Metro Lines

We propose a model for optimising driving speed profiles on metro lines to reduce traction energy consumption. The model optimises the cruising speed to be maintained on each section between two stations; the functions that link the cruising speed to the travel time on the section and the corresponding energy consumption are built using microscopic railway simulation software. In addition to formulating an optimisation model and its resolution through a gradient algorithm, the problem is also solved by using a simulation model and the corresponding optimisation module, with which stochastic factors may be included in the problem. The results are promising and show that traction energy savings of over 25% compared to non-optimised operations may be achieved.

Optimal signal timing design for the intersection of Dazhi Street and Hexing Road

The phenomenon of intersection congestion has become a major problem in the city. Based on the intersection of Hexing road and Dazhi street, the delay phenomenon of Urban Road intersection is optimized. The intersection of Hexing road and Dazhi street is seriously delayed. In order to improve the road capacity of the intersection and reduce the delay of the intersection, the traffic characteristics parameters of the intersection during peak period are obtained, and the traffic capacity and intersection service level of the signalized intersection are analyzed and calculated. Based on the study of the basic content and research methods of signal timing at signalized intersections, the microscopic simulation software VISSIM was used to improve the traffic control scheme with serious delays at intersections and low urban road capacity, the simulation optimization is carried out by changing the signal timing and resetting the channelization scheme of intersection. Meanwhile, the signal timing of intersection is optimized. The results show that the traffic capacity of the intersection has been greatly improved by VISSIM simulation.

Categorizing Merging and Diverging Strategies of Truck Drivers at Motorway Ramps and Weaving Sections using a Trajectory Dataset

Lane-changing models are essential components for microscopic simulation. Although the literature recognizes that different classes of vehicles have different ways of performing lane-change maneuvers, lane change behavior of truck drivers is an overlooked research area. We propose that truck drivers are heterogeneous in their lane change behavior too and that inter-driver differences within truck drivers exist. We explore lane changing behavior of truck drivers using a trajectory data set collected around motorway bottlenecks in the Netherlands which include on-ramp, off-ramp, and weaving sections. Finite mixture models are used to categorize truck drivers with respect to their merging and diverging maneuvers. Indicator variables include spatial, temporal, kinematic, and gap acceptance characteristics of lane-changing maneuvers. The results suggest that truck drivers can be categorized into two and three categories with respect to their merging and diverging behaviors, respectively. The majority of truck drivers show a tendency to merge or diverge at the earliest possible opportunity; this type of behavior leads to most of the lane change activity at the beginning of motorway bottlenecks, thus contributing to the raised level of turbulence. By incorporating heterogeneity within the lane-changing component, the accuracy and realism of existing microscopic simulation packages can be improved for traffic and safety-related assessments.

The Impact of Emergency Parking Bays on Quasi-Eight-Lane Expressway Traffic Operations

Recently, with the discrepancy between increasing traffic demand and limited land resources, more and more expressways are choosing to use hard shoulders to expand into quasi-six-lane or quasi-eight-lane roads. Therefore, more emergency parking bays are used in place of traditional parking belts. However, there are no standards defining clear and unified specifications for the design of parking bays. This paper aimed to investigate the impact of emergency parking bays on expressway traffic operations with various traffic volumes and setting conditions. Based on the Monte Carlo method, VISSIM (Verkehr in Städten Simulation, a microscopic simulation software) simulation experiments were conducted using measured traffic operation data from one expressway in Zhejiang province. The probability of unsafe deceleration, lane-changing maneuvers and delay times were considered as the safety and efficiency indexes in this simulation study. The simulation results indicated that the emergency parking vehicle had an increasing impact on the following vehicle as the traffic volume increased. However, the impact pattern was found to be insensitive to the changing of the bay taper length. For low traffic volume, compared with the arrival vehicle, the departure vehicle had more impact on the traffic operation of the mainline. However, the impact of the arrival vehicle became more remarkable as the traffic volume increased. After parking, the waiting time for merging into the mainline was reduced as the volume decreased or as the bay taper increased. Furthermore, reductions caused by varying bay tapers were more significant under high volume conditions. Finally, this study suggests that parking bays are inapplicable when the occupancy of the road space exceeds 20% (about 3000 veh/h), because they would cause significant impact on the safety and efficiency of the expressway. The results of this paper are useful for the design and implementation of emergency parking bays.

Evaluation of alternative Ramp Metering scenarios on freeway on-ramp with the use of microscopic simulation software Vissim

The main goals of this paper include the investigation and evaluation of alternative ramp metering scenarios on a freeway on-ramp and the development of a “smart” signal controller, with the use of PTV Vissim microsimulation software. A complex interchange on the Ring road of Thessaloniki was chosen for the implementation of this study and a drone was used to measure traffic volumes. Using the Vissim platform, a software model was created and its accuracy with respect to the existing situation was evaluated. Different scenarios were developed, and the function of the interchange was observed. In the first set of scenarios, the traffic volume was increased by certain percentage and the results were collected and examined. Next, two new scenarios with the use of ramp metering were developed and a traffic signal was placed on the on-ramp. In the first of these two scenarios, a traffic light with a fixed-time traffic program was placed, whereas in the second one, a vehicle-actuated signal light was created, with the use of the VisVAP add-on. A flow chart was generated and used to program the signal light, so that each time high traffic volume was detected by the detectors that were placed in the expressway, the red light was activated. After all the scenarios were created and examined, certain KPI’s were collected and used for the overall evaluation. The results from the use of the ramp meter, either the fixed-time or the vehicle-actuated, showed that a ramp meter can be very effective in the improvement of the traffic conditions and may have a positive environmental impact.

Comparing the Traffic Operation, Fuel Consumption, and Pollutant Emission of Bike Lane Pattern Design with AIMSUN Microscopic Simulation Model: A Case Study of Nakhon Sawan Municipality in Thailand

Background: The present research aimed to compare and evaluate two forms of shared roadways, which were Conventional Bike Lane (CBL) and Median Bike Lane (MBL). Methods: The road network and traffic conditions of Nakhon Sawan Municipality, comprised of 712 links and 237 nodes, simulated by using the AIMSUN microscopic simulation software in order to compare the delay time, operating speed, total travel time, fuel consumption, and emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOX), Particulate Matter (PM), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Results: The obtained results can be used as efficiency data for designing a campaign to encourage private car drivers to change their daily transportation mode to bicycle, which will ultimately help to solve traffic congestion problems and reduce environmental impacts in a sustainable way. The research results showed that a campaign encouraging a change in transportation mode should focus on reducing 36 percent of all private cars in the road network (at least 9,691 veh/hr). Conclusion: This approach will minimize the delay time in the road network by 0.89 sec/km and reduce 1,228.66 liters of fuel consumption, 2,769,764.47 g/km of carbon dioxide, 8654.86 g/km of nitrogen oxide, 1,463.33 g/km of particulate matter, and 1,383.93 g/km of volatile organic compounds.

An Integrated Variable Speed Limit and ALINEA Ramp Metering Model in the Presence of High Bus Volume

Under many circumstances, when providing full bus priority methods, urban transport officials have to operate buses in mixed traffic based on their road network limitations. In the case of Istanbul's Metrobus lane, for instance, when the route comes to the pre-designed Bosphorus Bridge, it has no choice but to merge with highway mixed traffic until it gets to the other side. Much has been written on the relative success of implementing Ramp Metering (RM), for example ALINEA (‘Asservissement line´ aire d’entre´ e autoroutie’) and Variable Speed Limits (VSL), two of the most widely-used “merging congestion” management strategies, in both a separate and combined manner. However, there has been no detailed study regarding the combination of these systems in the face of high bus volume. This being the case, the ultimate goal of this study is to bridge this gap by developing and proposing a combination of VSL and RM strategies in the presence of high bus volume (VSL+ALINEA/B). The proposed model has been coded using microscopic simulation software—VISSIM—and its vehicle actuated programming (VAP) feature; referred to as VisVAP. For current traffic conditions, the proposed model is able to improve total travel time by 9.0%, lower the number of average delays of mixed traffic and buses by 29.1% and 81.5% respectively, increase average speed by 12.7%, boost bottleneck throughout by 2.8%, and lower fuel consumption, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions by 17.3% compared to the existing “VSL+ALINEA” model. The results of the scenario analysis confirmed that the proposed model is not only able to decrease delay times on the Metrobus system but is also able to improve the adverse effects of high bus volume when subject to adjacent mixed traffic flow along highway sections.