This paper looks at a process to evaluate traffic incident management using the VISSIM simulation software. Applying a three-step methodology, a model is created in a case study project to explain the evaluation process. The need for calibrating and validating the simulation model is established and results of the simulation for different incident management scenarios are presented. Benefit evaluation of various management methods is done by comparing the results obtained from VISSIM. The paper concludes that using VISSIM in a three-step model is effective in evaluating incident management methods. Among several problems arising from a highway incident, the most often associated is traveler delay. Traffic management forms a crucial part of incident management and can significantly reduce incident related traveler delays. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology that evaluates the benefits and dis-benefits of traffic diversion as a traffic incident management tool.
Abstract