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Modeling and simulation methods are essential elements
in the design, evaluation, and operation of transportation systems.
Congestion problems in cities worldwide have prompted at all levels of
government and industry a proliferation of interest in Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) that include advanced supply and demand
management techniques. Such techniques include real-time traffic control
measures, and real-time traveler information and guidance systems whose
purpose is to assist travelers in making departure time, mode and route
choice decisions.
Transportation researchers around the world have in recent years
devoted their attention to developing models and methods for use in the
design and operations of effective traffic management systems. This
course draws heavily on the results of recent research and is sponsored
by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT). The course instructors represent - in
addition to MIT - Princeton University; Swiss Institute of Technology,
Lausanne; University of Naples; University of Montreal; University of
Massachusetts, Lowell; Volpe National Transportation Systems Center;
University of Texas, Austin; Ohio State University; and Technical
University of Crete.
The course lecturers have studied in depth all aspects of dynamic
traffic management. They have developed both microscopic and mesoscopic
simulation models along with dynamic simulation-assignment models with
multiple user classes for ITS applications. Analytical dynamic traffic
assignment models are also being developed and extensive research on
computational aspects, such as shortest path computations, has been
conducted. In addition, extensive research in estimation and prediction
of origin to destination (O-D) flows has occurred throughout the past
decade and several versions of a real-time O-D model have been
developed. Travel choice models have been under development for the past
two decades, with current emphasis on driver behavior in the presence of
information and the use of multimedia tools for the collection of
related choice data. Researchers are also addressing congestion pricing
issues. Like other demand management schemes, congestion pricing and
traveler information systems can be used to directly influence people's
departure-time, route, mode, and destination choice, as well as their
decision to travel.
Some of the products garnered from research projects at various
universities and institutions are currently in a relatively mature state
and can be utilized by practitioners in the field. Traffic simulation
and dynamic traffic assignment techniques, for instance, have proven
their usefulness both in managing traffic and in evaluating various
management systems prior to bringing them on line.
This one-week program studies in depth a suite of traffic models and
modeling methods and their application to designing, evaluating, and
operating real-time traffic management systems. Participants learn about
origin-destination estimation and prediction for real-time applications;
dynamic traffic assignment methods; traffic flow models; traffic control
and guidance systems; and off-line evaluation methods using traffic
simulation. The program includes demonstration of existing software.
Applications include both realistic and hypothetical situations.
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and questions to
its-www@mit.edu
