Realizing an effective and flexible ITS evaluation strategy through modular and multi-scaled traffic simulation

The next generation of transportation systems employing advanced ITS and vehicular inter-networking are difficult to evaluate because of their inherent complexity. Advanced control algorithms, sensor setups, multiple communication media, and the varying driver reactions require new planning and evaluation strategies. While simulation tools are often used to study the likely effects of such systems in advance, we do not fully know what to expect as the outcome of a given implementation, making it difficult to validate a simulations output. Data collection from a variety of field-tests is beginning to provide this data, but simulation definition, implementation and validation tools are all in need of improvement in order to keep up. Here we propose a new simulation framework that can translate a single ITS use case to different simulation tools with multiple traffic networks and/or data sets. This allows simulation tools to be compared and combined as appropri-ate for the given use case in order to improve both the validity and scalability of the simulation, and to facilitate better coop-eration between those working in this rapidly developing field.