Agent based simulation applied to the design of control systems for emergency vehicles access

Traffic congestions have huge impact on urban transportation and are even more problematic when emergency vehicles are present, their fast travel requirements disrupting regular traffic. The aim of this study is to formulate an agent based simulation perspective on aiding the design of complex and distributed control systems, such as the one facilitating the arrival of the emergency vehicles to accident sites. Thus, we provide a user friendly method for validation of traffic control systems that supports interdisciplinary design. In particular, such a simulation model can be easily used by transportation engineers not acquainted with the mechanics of control systems, as it allows for empirical transfer of knowledge from the ITS field into controller synthesis methodology.