Hierarchical Routing in Traffic Using Swarm-Intelligence

In this paper the design of a dynamic routing system, called hierarchical routing system, is presented. It splits traffic networks into several smaller and less complex networks by introducing a hierarchy between the roads. An algorithm inspired from the ants behaviour in nature is applied for the dynamic routing. At each intersection our system maintains a routing table used for guiding the cars. This model is supplemented with actual data from the traffic by the vehicles themselves. In order to test our system we built a simulation environment with a routing system that guides the vehicles between cities using the fastest way in time and taking into account the load on the roads. The simulator makes possible to play different accident scenarios, like a crisis game where, because of a disaster, multiple roads become unavailable or heavily congested, and most of the drivers are disoriented