Large-Scale Agent-Based Combined Traffic Simulation of Private Cars and Commercial Vehicles

Abstract

The number of independent and interdependent freight actors (firms), the complex supply chain structures among them, and the sensitivity of shipment data are but a few reasons why modeling freight traffic is lagging its public and private transit counterparts. In this paper we used an agent-based approach to reconstruct commercial activity chains, and simulated them-along with private vehiclesfor a large-scale scenario in Gauteng, South Africa. The simulated activities are compared to the actual observed activities of 5196 vehicles that were inferred from GPS logs covering approximately six months. The results show that the activity chains reconstructed are both spatially and temporally accurate, especially in areas of high activity density. With freight vehicles being a major contributor to traffic congestion and emissions, our contribution is significant in bridging the gap between the person and commercial transport modeling state-of-the-art.

The Multi-Agent Transport Simulation MATSim

“…Activity chains' extraction from raw GPS data was documented in Joubert and Axhausen (2011); the rst joint private car and freight implementation appeared in Joubert et al (2010). In Nagel et al (2014), we used MATSim to evaluate the impact of a complex vehicle-type speci c toll structure where sub-populations, including freight, have di erent time values.…”

ROThAr: Real-Time On-Line Traffic Assignment with Load Estimation

“…The best solution for this problem is probably to use a microscopic simulation, such as SUMO [19], VISSIM [20], MATSim [21] and FLoMiTSiM [22]. This traffic model allows a simulation at the individual vehicle level and gives a precise view of the system.…”

Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation of Connected Corridors—Merits Evaluation and Future Steps

“…MATSim has been used in several studies and projects around the world (for examples see [5][6][7][8][9][10]). This open source simulation software is capable of simulating millions of agents or huge, detailed networks [11].…”

“…A realistic base case scenario, taking four modes of transport into account, was simulated, and results were validated with average workday count data [13]. Joubert et al, [6] used MATSim to simulate both commercial activity chains and private vehicles in Gauteng, South Africa. Comparison between the simulated model and observed vehicles chain from Global Positioning System were conducted, which revealed the geographical and temporal accuracy of the simulated model in MATSim.…”