Can You Simulate Traffic Psychology? An Analysis

Abstract

Contemporary traffic simulation frameworks use sophisticated physical- or mathematical models to "mimic" traffic systems in a lifelike fashion. Nevertheless, when it comes to road traffic, there seems to be no parameter more essential than the driver himself. Most frameworks neglect human factors in traffic entirely, or "estimate" a particular form of human behavior without providing any connection to reality. In this work we aim to establish such connection. We explain driver behavior from a psychological perspective and analyze the most important (psychological) driver behavior conceptualizations in order to identify crucial factors of human traffic behavior. Based on this analysis we examine the ability of state-of-the-art traffic simulation to account for these factors. It is our intention to determine the capabilities of traffic simulation frameworks, to point out perspectives for future research and to provide a guideline for the selection of the right traffic simulation system.

@INPROCEEDINGS{Lutzenberger2013Can,
  author = {Marco L"{u}tzenberger and Sahin Albayrak},
  title = {Can You Simulate Traffic Psychology? An Analysis},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2013 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC 2013),
	Washington D.C., USA},
  year = {2013},
  editor = {R. Pasupathy and S.-H. Kim and A. Tolk and R. Hill and E. Kuhl},
  pages = {1539--1550},
  publisher = {IEEE},
  abstract = {Contemporary traffic simulation frameworks use sophisticated physical-
	or mathematical models to ``mimic'' traffic systems in a lifelike
	fashion. Nevertheless, when it comes to road traffic, there seems
	to be no parameter more essential than the driver himself. Most frameworks
	neglect human factors in traffic entirely, or ``estimate'' a particular
	form of human behavior without providing any connection to reality.
	In this work we aim to establish such connection. We explain driver
	behavior from a psychological perspective and analyze the most important
	(psychological) driver behavior conceptualizations in order to identify
	crucial factors of human traffic behavior. Based on this analysis
	we examine the ability of state-of-the-art traffic simulation to
	account for these factors. It is our intention to determine the capabilities
	of traffic simulation frameworks, to point out perspectives for future
	research and to provide a guideline for the selection of the right
	traffic simulation system.}
}
Authors:
Marco Lützenberger, Sahin Albayrak
Category:
Conference Paper
Year:
2013
Location:
R. Pasupathy, S.-H. Kim, A. Tolk, R. Hill, E. Kuhl (eds.) Proceedings of the 2013 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC 2013), Washington, D.C., USA. pp. 1539-1550