Center for Traffic Simulation Studies

One of the fundamental requirements of facilitating the implementation of any advanced transportation management and information system (ATMIS) is the development of real-time traffic surveillance systems that can produce reliable and accurate traffic performance measures. This paper presents a new methodology for evaluating traffic surveillance systems using microscopic simulation models. A systematic simulation investigation of the performance and feasibility of anonymous vehicle tracking on arterials using the Paramics simulation model is performed. Previous research experience with vehicle reidentification techniques on single roadway segments is used to investigate the performance obtainable from tracking individual vehicles across multiple detector stations to obtain real-time path flow information such as travel time and volume. Our findings serve as a logical and necessary precursor to possible field implementation of vehicle reidentification techniques. The methodology, designed to evaluate a traffic surveillance system using microscopic traffic simulation, provides a valuable tool for investigating and comparing the performance of newly-developed traffic surveillance systems.