During the past decade a rapid increase in the development of computing technology has increased interest in the use of digital computers as a means of simulating traffic flow. The development of simulation concepts has advanced from simple deterministic models which considered only a few elements of the driver, vehicle, and environment to stochastic models which introduce complex interaction between the vehicle- driver and the physical environment. One of the major problems in introducing simulation techniques as a tool for the study of design and operational problems on highway systems is the difficulty encountered in programming simulation problems which can be learned with the expenditure of a limited amount of time. The authors report the development of a simulation system that utilizes a language called simcar which has a generalized capability for programming traffic simulation problems. The source language closely resembles the language used by design and traffic engineers. Using the simcar language, the geometry of a highway, the characteristics of vehicles and drivers and the control elements may be completely specified with only a limited amount of specialized training in computer programming.
Abstract