Integration of simulation and geographic information systems: modeling traffic flow in inland waterways

This paper describes the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) with simulation modeling of traffic flow on inland waterways. Two separate modeling efforts are described: (a) GIS/AutoMod modeling of barge traffic on the Ohio River, and (b) GIS/Arena modeling of the transit of ocean-going vessels through the Panama Canal. These modeling efforts demonstrate the benefits that accrue both to modeling realism and to the initialization process with discrete-event models of traffic flow on these waterways.