Traffic Simulator

Simulator,

this simulator, already linked, may be used to highlight some key points pertaining to traffic jams. 

This simulation allows one to control a small section of imaginary highway.  Ideally, one would be able to model the jamming that has been proven experimentally to occur without bottlenecks.  These jams arise from the small fluctuations in driving made by the operators, and unfortunately will not arise in this simulation.  However, these non-bottleneck jams have been proven to occur when the traffic density reaches a certain critical point.  While one can not adjust the density very subtly through the slight non-uninformities of the vehicles velocities and driving styles that trigger true jams, one may still control the density.

By setting the incoming cars to a constant amount, and the cars entering from off ramps to zero, one creates a stable stream.  The density may be increased at the on ramp by adding a single car.  while very crude, it very roughly simulates the "phase change" occurring at the critical density.  at this point, a jam will appear behind the car that will persist until the number of all incoming cars has been significantly reduced.

Posted at 11:52PM Dec 01, 2008 by Jeffrey Fowler in MediaHunt5  |  Comments[0]