Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) Overview
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Transcript Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) Overview
Next Generation Simulation
(NGSIM) Overview
NGSIM Stakeholders Meeting
March 24-25, 2003
John Halkias
FHWA Office of Transportation
Management
Gene McHale FHWA Office of Operations R&D
Outline
FHWA’s Traffic Analysis Tools Program
Leading to NGSIM
NGSIM Core Algorithms and Data Sets
NGSIM Stakeholder Groups
FHWA Traffic Analysis Tools Program
Program
Goals
Wider Use / Acceptance
of Tools
More Trusted Results
Program
Tracks
Types of
Activities
Deployment
Development
Guidance & training
Developing new
materials
Promotion of current
tools
Support of current
tools
tools
Improving
analytical
foundation of
existing tools
FHWA Recent Activities in Simulation
Assessing User Needs
Assessing Current Simulation Market
Results
• Viable market in traffic simulation packages
• Still gaps in functionality that require algorithm
development
• Users not sure how valid the models are, or how they
compute their results – “black box”
FHWA’s Decision
Maintain a strong presence and role in traffic simulation
Do not compete with private sector software development
market, instead act as market facilitator
Provide open, freely distributed products (data sets &
algorithms) to benefit entire traffic community – users,
vendors, researchers
Benefits of NGSIM
Fosters commercial market, instead of Federal competition
Exploits inherent strengths of public & private sectors
Enhances state-of-the-art in simulation modeling
Enables users to better understand (& justify) modeling results
NGSIM Strategies
Stakeholder interaction and involvement
• User, Modeler, Developer Groups
Incremental product development
• Deliver algorithms & data sets as they become available
Use of open processes
• Products and activities
Ongoing impact assessment
• Monitor market reaction
Contract – “NGSIM Core Algorithms and Data
Sets”
Contract Objective (from RFP):
“… to develop a core of open behavioral algorithms in
support of traffic simulation…
…that describe the interactions of multi-modal
travelers, vehicles and highway systems…
…openly distributed and made freely available to the
broad transportation community.”
Contract Products
Develop openly distributed:
• Algorithms, validated with real world data
• Data sets, for validating existing tools and core algorithms
• Documentation of algorithms and data sets
How we envision NGSIM affecting market
Software developers use NGSIM data sets and algorithms to
improve their products
Academic community conducts focused research in the
development of improved traffic behavioral models
Simulation model users can choose the most valid tools for
their applications and gain insight into their methodologies
Community interacts with the program through the NGSIM
repository and website
How we envision NGSIM affecting market
Software Developers
Improved Software
Tools
Model Users
NGSIM Website and
Repository
Algorithms
Focused
Research
Data Sets
Model Developers / Researchers
Valid
Results
NGSIM Stakeholders
Involved from the beginning, involved throughout
Stakeholder Groups created to act as surrogates for the traffic
simulation market sectors
NGSIM Stakeholder Groups
Objectives:
• Foster strengthened coordination and partnerships between
the FHWA and stakeholders
• Heighten awareness, understanding, and adoption of traffic
simulation concepts and strategies among key decisionmakers
Establish three stakeholder groups
• Membership of 15 members in each group
• Friends
Meet once a year, and correspond electronically more
frequently using e-mail and the web site
Stakeholder Groups
Model Users Group – Chair: Dr. George List
• Focus on the needs and requirements of end-users
• Representatives from state and local transportation
agencies and consultants
Traffic Modelers Group – Chair: Dr. Dolf May
• Focus on the selection, development, and validation of core
algorithms
• Representatives with demonstrated expertise in the area of
traffic modeling
Software Developers Group – Chair: Dr. Charlie Wallace
• Help ensure that developed products have the maximum
likelihood of influencing and improving commercial
products
• Developers and distributors of traffic simulation software