On Discovering Road Traffic Information Using Virtual Reality Simulations

Transport systems play critical role inmodern day economies and are prime example of highlydynamic complex systems. Current traffic monitoringsystems do not provide timely and granular informationwhich could sufficiently meet system analysisrequirements. Simulation augmented with VirtualReality (VR) has emerged as an important methodologyto model and analyze transport systems. This paperreports our ongoing work on developing an open sourceroad traffic VR simulator based on microscopic and carfollowingmodels, designed using Java Monkey Engine.Subsequent to a brief literature review on trafficsimulations, we give a description of the simulatordesign, its functionality, and the driver behaviourmodels used in the simulator. We then simulate fewinteresting traffic scenarios and analyse traffic flow,speed, occupancy and other results produced by thesimulator. Finally, we conclude and outline the futurework.

[1]  Barbara Andrews,et al.  The role of interactive graphics when applying traffic simulation models , 1990, 1990 Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings.

[2]  Great Britain. Office for Standards in Education,et al.  Transport statistics, Great Britain , 1976 .

[3]  Tao Ruan Wan,et al.  An intelligent vehicle model for 3D visual traffic simulation , 2003 .

[4]  Amitabh Chandra,et al.  Does Public Infrastructure Affect Economic Activity?: Evidence from the Rural Interstate Highway System , 2000 .

[5]  Kerner,et al.  Experimental properties of complexity in traffic flow. , 1996, Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics.

[6]  Tania Jiménez,et al.  A road traffic simulator: Car-following and lane-changing , 2000, ESM.

[7]  Jesús Félez,et al.  Real-Time Traffic Simulation With a Microscopic Model , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

[8]  Serge P. Hoogendoorn,et al.  State-of-the-art of vehicular traffic flow modelling , 2001 .

[9]  Daiheng Ni,et al.  2DSIM: A prototype of nanoscopic traffic simulation , 2003, IEEE IV2003 Intelligent Vehicles Symposium. Proceedings (Cat. No.03TH8683).

[10]  M. Bell,et al.  Traffic diversion due to motorway tolls , 1999 .

[11]  P.T.R. Wang,et al.  An object-oriented traffic simulation with IVHS applications , 1991, Vehicle Navigation and Information Systems Conference, 1991.

[12]  H. Greenberg An Analysis of Traffic Flow , 1959 .

[13]  Z. Toth-Szabo,et al.  Do We Have to Take Into Account the Human Mistakes during Traffic Simulation? , 2007, 2007 11th International Conference on Intelligent Engineering Systems.

[14]  P. G. Gipps,et al.  A behavioural car-following model for computer simulation , 1981 .

[15]  J T Hughes INTENSIVE TRAFFIC DATA COLLECTION FOR SIMULATION OF A CONGESTED AUCKLAND MOTORWAY , 1998 .

[16]  S. Bista,et al.  Real-Time Massive Data Simulation Visualization , 2008, 2008 IEEE Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security.