Software Architecture for a Transparent and Versatile Traffic Simulation

MATSim is a traffic simulation software package which can be customized and extended in the Java programming language using a set of interfaces. It recently acquired a plug-in system which was implemented using framework-assisted dependency injection, a pattern more typically used in enterprise rather than research software. We describe the extension points and the implementation of the plug-in system. The architecture makes it easier and safer to combine independently developed components to complex simulation models, compared to many ad-hoc solutions often found in research software

A Simulation-based Approach for Constructing All-day Travel Chains from Mobile Phone Data

The purpose of this work is to investigate replacing travel diaries with sets of call detail records (CDRs) as inputs for an agent-oriented traffic simulation. We propose constructing an agent population directly from a CDR dataset and fusing it with link volume counts to reduce spatio-temporal uncertainty and correct for underrepresented traffic segments. The problem of finding a set of travel plans which realizes a set of CDR trajectories and is consistent with a set of link volume counts is rephrased in terms of calibrating a choice model. This enables us to make use of an existing calibration scheme for agent-oriented simulations. We demonstrate our approach by an illustrative scenario with synthetic data

Building a minimal traffic model from mobile phone data

We investigate setting up a traffic simulation scenario only from a high spatial resolution set of mobile phone trajectories and an OpenStreetMap road network model. Mixed road traffic is modelled as the result of a choice for each user between a simulated congested car mode and a non-congested alternative mode parameterized by its speed

OpenStreetMap for traffic simulation

Micro-simulations of traffic systems are becoming more important as highly disaggregated data, such as mobility diaries or GPS traces, become available. For accurate results, a high-quality model of the road network is required. Recently, OpenStreetMap has proven to be a valuable data source, often on par with and in some respects surpassing proprietary network models provided by administrations in usefulness

Studying the Accuracy of Demand Generation from Mobile Phone Trajectories with Synthetic Data

We investigate replacing travel diaries with sets of call detail records (CDRs) as input data for an agent-oriented traffic simulation. Synthetic CDRs are used in order to study the effect of this substitution in isolation. We introduce an experimental design where a detailed synthetic transportation scenario with individual simulated travellers is combined with a simple model of mobile phone usage to collect synthetic CDRs. This set of artificial CDRs is then considered as input for another instance of the same traffic model, disregarding all other information. We analyse to what degree the model reproduces the base case, depending on the frequency of the available CDRs

MATSim JOSMNetwork Editor

A plugin for the JOSM (Java Open Street Map Editor) (JOSM, 2014), is available, simplifying the process of creating and editing MATSim networks. This plugin fully integrates with JOSM, benefiting from its built-in functionality

Towards a Multi-Agent Logistics and Commercial Transport Model: The Transport Service Provider's View

AbstractIt is widely recognized that micro-simulation and agent-based approaches can successfully be applied in transport policy analysis. However, logistic decisions and the complex relationships among freight actors make this a challenging task and a reason why the development of freight models is still behind the development of passenger models. In this paper, we present a multi-agent freight transport model in which logistics decisions are separated into two different roles: Transport service providers, which create transport chains, and carriers, which plan tours and schedule vehicles. Both agent types can consolidate on their respective level and realise economies of scale. The lowest tier of the model, which contains individual freight vehicles, is integrated into the MATSim traffic simulation to create an integrated model for freight and passenger traffic. Changes in passenger demand, disturbances in the traffic system or policy measures can be picked up by freight drivers and propagated upwards to influence decisions on the levels of vehicle scheduling and transport chain building. As proof of concept, we set up a scenario with a fictitious freight operator serving a set of customers. We demonstrate that freight traffic can be simulated under different traffic conditions and policy measures

An Elegant and Computationally Efficient Approach for Heterogeneous Traffic Modelling Using Agent Based Simulation

For developing nations, where mixed traffic conditions prevail, it becomes necessary to develop a heterogeneous traffic flow model which is able to model all vehicle types of different static and dynamic characteristics and equally efficient in computational performance. For this purpose, in this study, an agent based framework is used which uses a queue model in its mobility simulation. In first step, queue model is enhanced by adding different vehicle types with different maximum speeds and sizes. Furthermore, traditional FIFO (First-In-First-Out) approach of queue model is modified to a more realistic modified queue model in which faster vehicles can pass slower vehicles. The enhancements are discussed with their fundamental diagrams for traffic flow and spatio-temporal diagrams