The design, implementation, application and comparison of two highly automated traffic simulators

The combination of new developments in computing and new problems in practice stimulates new thinking about methods for producing models with which traffic systems can be simulated. This paper describes and compares two approaches aimed at largely automating the process of building rapidly executing micro-level simulation models for complex traffic networks. Two traffic simulators have been designed and implemented, one based on GPSS/H, the other based on a model-specific simulation engine written in Pascal. The alternative-language approaches are discussed in general terms and their use is illustrated in a specific application. Data file interfaces promote the integrated use of these simulation tools with other engineering tools commonly used for traffic system planning.