Validation of the Microscopic Traffic Flow Model VISSIM in Different Real-World Situations

This paper presents the possibilities of validating the microscopic traffic flow simulation model VISSIM, both on a microscopic and a macroscopic level. VISSIM implements a psycho-physical carfollowing model and thus provides a very realistic driving behavior. The complex model offers but also requires many model parameters that can be calibrated using measurement data from driving experiments. Some examples of how certain parameters influence driving behavior are given by comparing a simulated approach-and-following-process with records from a probe vehicle. The model parameters can be adjusted to reflect different traffic situations. As examples, the model is validated using measurement data taken from a German freeway and from a US freeway, where driver behavior as well as traffic regulations are substantially different.