Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic Algorithm

This study introduces a data-driven approach to calibrate microscopic traffic simulation models like VISSIM using high-resolution trajectory data, aiming to improve simulation accuracy and fidelity. The study focuses on a highway segment of NJ-3 and NJ-495 in Hudson County, New Jersey, selected as a...

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Main Authors: Abolfazl Afshari, Joyoung Lee, Dejan Besenski, Branislav Dimitrijevic, Lazar Spasovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1496
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author Abolfazl Afshari
Joyoung Lee
Dejan Besenski
Branislav Dimitrijevic
Lazar Spasovic
author_facet Abolfazl Afshari
Joyoung Lee
Dejan Besenski
Branislav Dimitrijevic
Lazar Spasovic
author_sort Abolfazl Afshari
collection DOAJ
description This study introduces a data-driven approach to calibrate microscopic traffic simulation models like VISSIM using high-resolution trajectory data, aiming to improve simulation accuracy and fidelity. The study focuses on a highway segment of NJ-3 and NJ-495 in Hudson County, New Jersey, selected as a case study for its high traffic volume and strategic significance. Trajectory data from 338 connected vehicles, sourced from the Wejo dataset, a global provider of anonymized, high-resolution vehicle movement data, along with traffic volume data from Remote Traffic Microwave Sensors (RTMS), served as inputs. The trajectories produced by the simulation model were compared to the ground truth to measure discrepancies. By adjusting driving behavior parameters (e.g., car-following and lane-changing behaviors) and other factors (e.g., desire speed), a Genetic Algorithm was adopted to minimize these differences. Results showed significant improvements, including a 14.19% reduction in mean error, an 18.27% reduction in median error, and a 22.57% reduction in the 75th percentile error during calibration. In the validation phase, the calibrated parameters yielded a 32.68% reduction in mean error, demonstrating the framework’s robustness. This study presents a scalable calibration framework using connected vehicle data, providing tools for accurate simulation, real-time traffic management, and infrastructure planning.
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spelling doaj-art-71f6e393f6fa4605a89d9205d2b8ef3d2025-08-20T02:48:09ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01153149610.3390/app15031496Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic AlgorithmAbolfazl Afshari0Joyoung Lee1Dejan Besenski2Branislav Dimitrijevic3Lazar Spasovic4John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USAJohn A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USAJohn A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USAJohn A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USAJohn A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USAThis study introduces a data-driven approach to calibrate microscopic traffic simulation models like VISSIM using high-resolution trajectory data, aiming to improve simulation accuracy and fidelity. The study focuses on a highway segment of NJ-3 and NJ-495 in Hudson County, New Jersey, selected as a case study for its high traffic volume and strategic significance. Trajectory data from 338 connected vehicles, sourced from the Wejo dataset, a global provider of anonymized, high-resolution vehicle movement data, along with traffic volume data from Remote Traffic Microwave Sensors (RTMS), served as inputs. The trajectories produced by the simulation model were compared to the ground truth to measure discrepancies. By adjusting driving behavior parameters (e.g., car-following and lane-changing behaviors) and other factors (e.g., desire speed), a Genetic Algorithm was adopted to minimize these differences. Results showed significant improvements, including a 14.19% reduction in mean error, an 18.27% reduction in median error, and a 22.57% reduction in the 75th percentile error during calibration. In the validation phase, the calibrated parameters yielded a 32.68% reduction in mean error, demonstrating the framework’s robustness. This study presents a scalable calibration framework using connected vehicle data, providing tools for accurate simulation, real-time traffic management, and infrastructure planning.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1496traffic microsimulation modelscalibrationconnected vehiclestrajectoriesdriving behavior parametersGenetic Algorithm
spellingShingle Abolfazl Afshari
Joyoung Lee
Dejan Besenski
Branislav Dimitrijevic
Lazar Spasovic
Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic Algorithm
Applied Sciences
traffic microsimulation models
calibration
connected vehicles
trajectories
driving behavior parameters
Genetic Algorithm
title Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic Algorithm
title_full Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic Algorithm
title_fullStr Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic Algorithm
title_full_unstemmed Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic Algorithm
title_short Calibrating Microscopic Traffic Simulation Model Using Connected Vehicle Data and Genetic Algorithm
title_sort calibrating microscopic traffic simulation model using connected vehicle data and genetic algorithm
topic traffic microsimulation models
calibration
connected vehicles
trajectories
driving behavior parameters
Genetic Algorithm
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1496
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AT dejanbesenski calibratingmicroscopictrafficsimulationmodelusingconnectedvehicledataandgeneticalgorithm
AT branislavdimitrijevic calibratingmicroscopictrafficsimulationmodelusingconnectedvehicledataandgeneticalgorithm
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