Traffic planning and traffic control require a tool to evaluate the performance of the considered traffic system. This requires a multi-purpose calculation method which can compute delays, queue lengths etc for different planning alternatives. These effects can be obtained from the modular system SIMPL for traffic flow simulation described in this paper. Formulating the model components with respect to recent research studies, a representation of traffic flow close to reality can be achieved. On the basis of a microscopic, time and space discrete concept, the simulation model gives the opportunity to integrate additional parameters considering real road user behaviour. In order to avoid the "black box effect" a graphical real time presentation of the simulated traffic provides a valuable tool to detect program inconsistencies and to assess the verisimilitude of the model.
Abstract