Modeling interactions in continuum traffic

It is a big challenge to generate the traffic scenarios with frequent lane changes in flow-based continuum traffic simulations. In this paper, we present a novel macroscopic method, named interactable cooperative driving lattice hydrodynamic model (Interactable CDL-H model). We describe traffic flow along lanes and flow interactions between lanes in a uniformly continuum frame. We further consider various constraints for a detailed lane-changing simulation. The model owns the efficiency of traditional macroscopic traffic models and can describe lane-changing behaviors effectively. It physically describes where/when/how traffic flow goes into (out) of a lane, which make it possible to simulate and display lane-changing behaviors in large-scale virtual environments. The validity and efficiency of the interactable CDLH model are demonstrated by comparing simulation results with real traffic data and one-dimensional CDLH model.