The need for better traffic control techniques has significantly increased during the past few years because of the rapidly increasing numbers of vehicles in American cities. A modelling method for traffic simulation is presented which promises to be a valuable tool for providing this needed control. This traffic simulation method is somewhat different from the usual queuing theory approach in that traffic simulation is realized by stepping vehicles through the traffic network system in accordance with per specified driver response criteria. Modern control theory was used in implementing this method, thus rendering it adaptable to standard control system theory for traffic control applications. A computer program developed for this model in which systems programming techniques were employed to minimize memory and computer requirements.
Abstract