On-Line Simulation of Large Scale Networks

In this contribution a micro-simulator for freeway traffic in large scale networks is presented. Based on a cellular automaton traffic flow model the simulation, which is coupled with measured data from induction loops etc., can provide network-wide information about the current traffic state. The simulation of the whole network is performed in multiple real-time. The framework is applied to the freeway network of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), where traffic data from about 3,500 inductive loops are available and provided on-line minute by minute. Technical aspects of the simulation, e.g., the network structure and the incorporation of the on-line data, are illustrated. This is followed by a discussion of the efficiency of the simulator. Furthermore, the results of the on-line simulation, i.e., daily traffic demands and the traffic state of NRW are given.