A framework for generic modular ATMS/ATIS support in IVHS traffic simulation

The authors present an interface to facilitate traffic simulation of intelligent vehicle systems (IVHS) (Federal Highway Administration, 1991). Once a generic user interface is agreed upon and its standard calls established, reusable model building blocks that are portable across different traffic models could be developed. As a first step, parameter lists required for effectively simulating the advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) and/or the advanced traffic management systems (ATMS) are presented. These generic parameter lists facilitate the modular support of C-based control routines for both microscopic and mesoscopic traffic simulators. This coupling of vendor specific ATIS or ATMS control algorithms and architecture specification with existing traffic modeling tools, in this case the Integration and THOREAU traffic simulations, is a key capability in the initial evaluation and analysis of alternative IVHS architectures. This approach has been tested by The MITRE Corporation and is currently being used in the FHWA IVHS architecture study. This paper details the common data elements exchanged between a traffic simulator and user-coded IVHS algorithms to determine costs-benefits and measures-of-effectiveness (MOE) for a wide range of ATIS and ATMS implementation alternatives.