INTEGRATED MODELING OF FREEWAY FLOW AND APPLICATION TO MICROCOMPUTERS.

Detailed and realistic analysis of freeway flow dynamics, even in simple situations, can rarely be made analytically or with other convenient tools such as nomographs or design curves. Such analysis is needed in comparing alternative geometric configurations, estimating the effects of improvements, determining the adequacy of traffic management schemes, assessing the impact of control strategies, studying the formation and dissipation of congestion on the freeway and its ramps, and so forth. An interactive, menu-driven macroscopic freeway simulation program with graphic capabilities is summarized in this paper. In addition to the employment of personal computers, the program has some attractive features that allow simulation at various levels of complexity. Improved macroscopic modeling specifically developed for the program is used to describe complex phenomena, such as lane changing, merging, diverging, and weaving.