HUTSIM – a Microscopic Traffic Simulator
Background
Figure 1: HUTSIM game, a special implementation of
a HUTSIM model, where up to four human players
compete in controlling traffic lights in order to keep
traffic running smoothly. Accessible at Science Center Heureka.
HUTSIM is a micro-simulation system developed by the Laboratory of Transportation Engineering at the Helsinki University of Technology since 1989. During the years HUTSIM has been used for variety of research projects by TKK and research partners. HUTSIM has been sold to several countries and the HUTSIM-team was awarded with the civil engineering job of the year in 2001.
References
Description of HUTSIM, together with real-world examples of its use, is also available at the webpages of Helsinki Urban Traffic Control Center. The text is in Finnish.HUTSIM principles
HUTSIM is an object oriented simulation model. Each vehicle is represented by an object that interacts with other vehicles, traffic environment and traffic control. Also the other types of elements in the simulation system are presented by objects. The interaction between vehicles is based on rules. The speed and lane changes of a vehicle is controlled by a set of rules that is executed by every update cycle. Since HUTSIM is a high-fidelity simulation model, the update frequency is high, typically 10-20 updates per second.
Figure 2: Principles of HUTSIM object model.
Capabilities
The HUTSIM's basic urban traffic model has been extended with simulation models of freeways/major arterials and two-lane rural roads. Pedestrians and bicycles, heavy vehicle dynamics and public transport operation has also been included into the HUTSIM simulation model. Several special applications has been developed based on HUTSIM, like for example the simulation of personal rapid transit (PRT).
Calibration
HUTSIM has been calibrated by several field studies. The basic urban traffic model was calibrated by field measurement in Finland. The freeway operation was developed and calibrated together with Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) and using Swedish field data. The two-lane rural road model was developed and calibrated together with The Ruhr Universitet Bochum (RUB). Automatic calibration processes using MATLAB and genetic algorithms have been developed in co-operation with French Naval Academy.
Figure 3: Another example of a HUTSIM simulation
model of four signalized junctions.
Present activities
At present time the research activity is focused on real-time simulation and its applications. Laboratory research involves modeling of traffic situation using simulated detector data. Field tests are going on in Tuusula test site and in Ruoholahti at Helsinki in the Onnimanni-project.
Platforms
HUTSIM can be used in concole mode or graphical mode. HUTSIM can be compiled into multiple platforms like Linux and Windows.