Computer simulation, microsimulation, traffic models, cellular automata

This article presents a developed simulator for studying traffic efficiency in a designated area. The logical layer of the tool is based on the theory of cellular automata, with particular emphasis on traffic models. In the first part of the article, the authors introduce the concept of a cellular automaton and present selected traffic models, while in the subsequent part, they present the assumptions and components of the developed software as well as its potential applications. The whole is supported by numerous figures showing individual application screens and final conclusions.Traffic congestion caused by the insufficient capacity of current roads is a constant problem for many Polish urban agglomerations. The possibility of smooth and efficient communication within an urban area is a particularly important aspect for residents. Unfortunately, the possibilities for reconstructing urban road junctions are severely limited and in some cases even impossible. It therefore remains to use the possibilities of controlling traffic lights (where they exist) in order to improve the capacity of specific locations. However, it would be good to precede such actions with an appropriate computer simulation confirming the validity of the idea and the correctness of the introduced parameters. For this purpose, the traffic microsimulator described in this article was developed. Mathematical models were used to control moving vehicles, which allow for a precise, error-free description of a selected segment of reality and the phenomena occurring within it.
An interesting example of the aforementioned mathematical models are cellular automata, whose idea and features allow for effective use in solving problems of simulating moving objects. (…)

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