Models, Traffic Models, Simulation and Traffic Simulation

Simulation is a technique that can be seen as a sampling experiment on a dynamic real system through a computer model formally representing it. Simulation assumes that the evolution of the system’s model over time properly imitates the evolution over time of the modeled system. Thus, samples of the observational variables of interest are collected. From these samples, conclusions on system behavior can be drawn by using statistical analysis techniques. Building models of systems and using them to make decisions is based on well established methodological grounds, specially in dealing complex systems, as in the case of traffic systems. Microscopic simulation of traffic systems has proved to be a successful approach to represent them in terms of models that emulate traffic flow dynamics through the dynamics of its elementary components, the individual vehicles. This seminar will present an introductory overview of model building processes, its application to traffic systems and the fundamental concepts on how to validate and use them in a decision support framework.