The analysis of traffic control systems can be done by means of computer simulations cost-effectively and without any risk. This report concentrates on traffic simulations during the development of urban traffic control systems. In a first step a detailed comparison is performed to learn about the potential and the limits of several microscopic car-following models which have been proposed in the literature. The comparison is done by empirical single-car-following measurements as well as by macroscopic traffic characteristics. One single model is chosen to demonstrate its use in urban traffic simulations with net elements like unsignalized intersections, signalized intersections, or roundabouts. This procedure allows to assess any kind of urban traffic control strategy. Typical criteria are quantities like mean trip times, delay times, or queue lengths. All these quantities can be easily recorded during simulation.
Abstract