The adoption of connected vehicle (CV) technology is anticipated at various levels of development and deployment over the next decade. One primary challenge with these new technologies is the lack of platform to enable a robust and reliable evaluation of their benefits given the complexity of interactions among wireless communications, algorithms, and human behaviors. Underlying driver behavior models in microscopic simulation are not always well-suited for modern applications using CV and automated vehicle (AV) technology. This study proposed a framework for incorporating realistic driver behaviors into a microscopic traffic simulation for AV/CV applications using VISSIM microscopic simulation software. The framework consists of three levels of driver behavior adjustment: event-based, continuous, and semi automated/automated driver behavior adjustment. The framework provides several examples and details on how various applications can be properly modeled in a traffic simulation environment. To demonstrate the framework, researchers conducted a case study of a simulation evaluation of cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC). CACC enables the vehicles to follow each other in a very tight spacing (also known as platooning) using wireless connectivity and automated longitudinal control. The case study shows that a modified driver model can be successfully used in the simulation to evaluate the benefits of AV/CV applications such as CACC with respect to their mobility, safety, and environmental performance. (Author/publisher)
Abstract