Development of Simulation Model for Heterogeneous Traffic with no Lane Discipline

Indian traffic can be considered as chaotic, with various types of vehicles present with no lane discipline. In order to model Indian traffic condition, it is necessary to incorporate both the vehicular heterogeneity and the „no lane discipline‟ conditions in a meaningful way. Research has been made on weak lane discipline or vehicular heterogeneity as a single entity, but both these criteria are not present in a single model. In the present study, an attempt is made to quantify the unaccounted parameters of heterogeneity for Indian traffic into the existing car-following models to form a modified car-following model. A simulation model has been developed as a software program to study the performance of the modified car-following model in replicating Indian conditions. This model is used to simulate the traffic stream and some preliminary results are obtained. They are validated with field data collected from a major road in Delhi. The model is able to satisfactorily simulate the real- time traffic conditions. Analysis is carried out for roadway traffic characteristics, distribution of vehicles along roadway width and speed distribution of vehicles. The model, after extensive validation at a later stage, can be useful for future traffic experts for application.