Traffic modeling software for IVHS applications

Intelligent Vehicle/Highway Systems (IVHS) is a multi-year research/demonstration program which aims at improving the vehicle/highway system operation and management techniques for the post-interstate construction era. The authors first describe the framework of IVHS, which as four major components: (1) advanced traffic management system (ATMS); (2) advanced driver information system (ADIS); (3) commercial vehicle operations (CVO); and (4) advanced vehicle control systems (AVCS). The ATMS related research and development plans to support the real-time traffic management systems and control strategies are considered. The state-of-the-art traffic engineering modeling software is reviewed. The discussion centers around the TRAF system, a family of microscopic and macroscopic traffic simulation software models for surface streets, freeways, and corridor networks. The gap between the capabilities provided by the current traffic modeling software and the functional requirement of the IVHS traffic models is also addressed