An Agent Based Model to Analyze the Effects of Traffic Signal Timing on Vehicle Throughput in Inclement Weather

This preliminary paper discusses the creation of an agent based model for a signalized traffic intersection derived from a previously developed mathematical vehicle-following micro-simulation model. The results of the agent based model are compared to the results from the mathematical model for verification purposes. The agent based model is then used to show the effects of inclement weather on vehicle throughput at a traffic intersection and to show how increasing the signal intervals in these conditions can help to partially restore traffic throughput to normal condition levels. This effort is just part of the many simulation and modeling efforts that will be required as autonomous vehicles as well as person controlled vehicles begin to share the roadway. The role of IoT will become extremely important and even more so, as driving conditions are exacerbated by unforeseen and environmentally hazardous roadway conditions making intercommunication between vehicles and infrastructure even more critical.