Towards Reliability in the Usage of Traffic Simulation Tools

Abstract

When using simulation programs to support decisions, it is of the uttermost importance to make sure that the results are as reliable and realistic as possible. This turns out to be one of the bigger challenges with the development and the use of those programs, be it open source or not. With respect to traffic simulations, this means to tackle a wide range of modelling questions from driving a vehicle to route and mode choice decisions or even decisions regarding to move at all (demand modelling). While this being a more or less scientific and engineering job to do, in addition the model and simulation developers have to help the applicants in the daily use of these simulation programs to avoid wrong usage resulting in bad decisions. This keynote will give some examples which show, that there are still a lot of hurdles to surmount until we may reach a stat! e where these programs can be considered ripe.