INTEGRATION: An Overview of Traffic Simulation Features

The INTEGRATION model first attempted to provide a single model that could consider both freeways and arterials, and which also could consider both traffic assignment and simulation. This ability was intended to bridge the gap between the scope of network on which planning models could be applied and the level of resolution that operational tools needed to provide. Since this time, the model has also integrated traditional Intelligent Transportation Systems considerations such as ATMS and ATIS, the coupled modeling of traffic and vehicle emissions, and more recently the combined modeling of traffic and communications subsystems. However, all of these model extensions depend upon the validity of the same traffic simulation and assignment logic that is at the core of the the model. The objective of this paper is to describe the core traffic simulation logic and specific attributes related to the model’s ability to represent the operational aspects of freeways and signalized links. The main measures of performance that can be generated and the various approaches to performing traffic assignment are presented elsewhere.