A novel methodology for evolutionary calibration of VISSIM by multi-threading

Traffic micro-simulation models have become very popular in transport studies and are extensively used in research and by industry. Traffic simulation models are especially very useful in reflecting the dynamic nature of transportation system in a stochastic manner, which is beyond the capability of some classic methods. Nevertheless, one of the major concerns of micro-simulation users has been the appropriate calibration of this software. An inappropriate calibration may end in a wrong conclusion and decision which could result in irreparable costs or problems. This paper develops an efficient methodology to improve the calibration procedure of traffic micro-simulation models. It applies the method to VISSIM. It provides a methodology for auto-tuning of VISSIM as one of the well-known and commercially available traffic micro-simulations. More specifically, it looks at the car-following and lane changing models as they form the main component of any traffic micro-simulation. This approach uses particle swarm optimisation (PSO) method as an evolutionary algorithm through the VISSIM COM interface and parallel optimisation technique to reduce the cost of auto-tuning and calibration. This paper could be of interest to transport experts in particularly those who are using traffic micro-simulation and looking for auto-calibration approach.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.atrf.info/papers/2013/index.aspx
• Authors:
  • Aghabayk, K
  • Sarvi, M
  • Young, W
  • Kautzsch, L
• Conference:
  • Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), 36th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: Transport and the new world city: 36th Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), October 2nd-4th 2013, Brisbane

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Car following; Highway traffic control; Lane changing; Mathematical models; Microsimulation; Software; Traffic flow; Traffic lanes
• ATRI Terms: Calibration; Car following; Lane changing; Microsimulation; Modelling; Traffic flow; Traffic management
• ITRD Terms: 1855: Driving (veh)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I71: Traffic Theory;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01503302
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 6 2014 10:57AM