Large-Scale Traffic Simulation Tools for Planning and Operations Management

Traffic simulation tools are becoming increasingly popular for evaluating short-term transportation planning and traffic operations management strategies. Planners and managers may choose from a range of available simulation tools that differ in the accuracy (i.e. fidelity) of their representation of real-world demand and supply phenomena. These tools can generally be classified as microscopic, mesoscopic or macroscopic, representing a decreasing order in level of detail and realism. In this paper, we showcase TransModeler, a simulation model that can handle all three fidelity levels on the same network. This hybrid simulation approach, unique to TransModeler, allows agencies to simulate very large urban networks while choosing the links, segments or corridors that require a detailed, microscopic focus. We present some methodological concepts behind TransModeler, its equilibrium capabilities, and illustrative case studies on real-world networks.