Evaluation of SCATSIM–RTA Adaptive Traffic Network Simulation Model

Abstract

The traffic network simulation model, SCATSIM, was developed by the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales, Australia, as an aid to the development and improvement of the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS). It is capable of simulating traffic under different control techniques (such as fixed-time and SCATS adaptive control). Other traffic control systems, with known control algorithms, can also be simulated by SCATSIM. This paper is aimed at evaluating SCATSIM performance against a well-accepted analytical model, TRANSYT. Test runs demonstrate that SCATSIM is capable of simulating comprehensive traffic conditions derived from real world situations. It indicates that SCATSIM can simulate (a) traffic delay, vehicle stops, and fuel consumption within 11 percent of those predicted by TRANSYT; and (b) vehicle pollution emission (carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen) within 5 percent of what is derived from TRANSYT results.

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