This report describes a process and acts as guidelines for the recommended use of traffic microsimulation software in transportation analyses. The seven-step process presented in these guidelines highlights the aspects of niIcrosimulation analysis from project start to project completion. The seven steps in the process include: 1) scope project, 2) data collection, 3) base model development, 4) error checking, 5) compare model MOEs to field data (and adjust model parameters), 6) alternatives analysis, and 7) final report. Each step is described in detail and an example problem applying the process is carried through the entire document. The appendices to report contain detailed in information covering areas such as: a) traffic microsimulation fundamentals, b) confidence intervals, c) estimation of simulation initialization period, d) simple search algorithms for calibration, e) hypothesis testing of alternatives, and f) demand constraints. This is the third volume in a series of volumes in the Traffic Analysis Toolbox. The other volumes currently in the Traffic Analysis Toolbox are: Volume I: Traffic Analysis Tools Primer (FHWA-HRT-04-038, http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficanalysistools/tat_vol1/index.htm) and Volume II: Decision Support Methodology for Selecting Traffic Analysis Tools (FHWA-HRT-04-039, http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficanalysistools/tat_vol2/index.htm). (Author/publisher)
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