Dynamic simulation-assignment methodology to evaluate in-vehicle information strategies in urban traffic networks

A model combining traffic simulation and path assignment capabilities is presented to analyze the effect of in-vehicle real-time information on the performance of a congested traffic network. The research integrates the main components of a traffic network under real-time information, namely, the traffic flow, the driver behavior, and the network information dissemination, into a single modeling framework which is then used to study the underlying dynamics and evaluate alternative designs of such traffic systems. Drivers' route decisions in response to the information are modeled individually at each node. Results of a series of simulation experiments are discussed. Special coding considerations for efficient vector processing on supercomputers are also examined.