Traffic simulation for intelligent transportation systems development

This paper presents a traffic simulation environment and test development of intelligent transportation systems. The GESTRAF traffic simulator is based on a cellular automata approach where the individual uniqueness has been stressed in the cell model. Each vehicle-driver pair has the same dynamic structure based on basic kinematics and structural behavior of human in the loop as a controller for speed and relative distance to other cars. The model includes also the decision making process from the driver in changing lanes. The individuality of each of these models appears from the model parameters that are randomly generated from statistical distributions introduced in the simulator. This allows the integration of the individuality factor of the population elements. The result is a flexible tool where it is possible to add new elements in order to simulate a wide variety of situations.