Author(s)

D. Herviou & E. Maisel

Abstract

In this article we introduce AReViRoad, a virtual reality tool: a traffic road simulator that enables one to determine the impact of the road network on traffic fluidity. The traffic generation is based on a multi-agent system in which each vehicle (an entity) is a software agent with its own behavior (autonomous). This solution offers a credible traffic road that will be used for testing a road network. With a set of given tools one can create one’s own road network. Thereafter, one can configure one’s own simulation (number of vehicles, tested road network, flow of car generators) and then launch, observe and analyse it with dedicated tools, such as a 3D view, flow meter and timer. Keywords: traffic road simulation, virtual reality, virtual actors, conception and analysis of urban road networks. 1 Introduction The increase of vehicles in urban areas implies traffic congestion. To reduce traffic jams, several solutions exist; some are not very expensive i.e. smart traffic lights, but others are i.e. road network modification. This last solution needs to be tested and validated prior to its application. Tools that help to conceive it rely notably on traffic road generation and software for creating the road network. In this article, we introduce the AReViRoad- a traffic road simulator based on a microscopic simulation. We will first explain the existing solutions for generating a traffic road and then detail the one we have chosen by exploring the driver representation inside AReViRoad. Next we will see the simulation environment and the dedicated tools used to build them. Finally we will show two examples of the usage for AReViRoad: the test of two different configurations of road networks and their impacts on global traffic fluidity and a smart traffic light system used to regulate traffic flow.

Keywords

traffic road simulation, virtual reality, virtual actors, conception and analysis of urban road networks.