Dynamic simulation-assignment methodology to evaluate in-vehicle information strategies in urban traffic networks

A model combining traffic simulation and path assignment capabilities is presented to analyze the effect of in-vehicle real-time information on the performance of a congested traffic network. The research integrates the main components of a traffic network under real-time information, namely, the traffic flow, the driver behavior, and the network information dissemination, into a single modeling framework which is then used to study the underlying dynamics and evaluate alternative designs of such traffic systems. Drivers´ route decisions in response to the information are modeled individually at each node. Results of a series of simulation experiments are discussed. Special coding considerations for efficient vector processing on supercomputers are also examined