Vehicle traffic microsimulator for ad hoc networks research

Host mobility patterns have an important effect on performance of ad hoc networks. For this reason, many evaluation studies involve analytical or simulation models to synthesize the movement of mobile hosts. The growing interest in investigating the use of ad hoc networks in inter-vehicle communication demands a vehicle mobility model that is capable of creating realistic movements. In fact, there exists a cellular automata (CA) model that is known for its ability to produce such movements. This paper describes a traffic microsimulator, RoadSim, which implements the basic CA model and extends it in order to generate traffic patterns suitable for use in ad hoc network research. RoadSim is capable of producing traffic that exhibits free flow characteristics, as well as start-stop waves caused by traffic jams. It can also simulate traffic in closed-loop roads or at intersections controlled by traffic signs. We intend to use this tool to evaluate ad hoc protocols in road conditions that, otherwise, cannot be reproduced without more complex and expensive traffic simulators.