FHWA Research and Technology Evaluation: Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation

2018Final report; 2009- 2017PDFTech ReportFHWA-HRT-18-042Evaluation and assessmentSimulationTransportation planningExploratory Advanced Research (EAR) ProgramAgent-based modelingTransportation modelingUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and InnovationBucci, GregoryCalley, ChrisGreen, MichaelJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation ManagementNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-PLANNING AND POLICYNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATIONVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Center;Federal Highway AdministrationThe overall purpose of this evaluation was to understand the effect of the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s (FHWA\u2019s) Research and Technology Program activities on the implementation of agent-based approaches to transportation-related projects and activities. Agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) uses individual \u201cagents,\u201d typically drivers and agencies, to model changes in transportation networks and systems. Researchers and industry stakeholders view ABMS and the data-collection and validation processes that ABMS requires as a valuable, emerging practice that can be used to advance existing transportation-modeling and simulation techniques. ABMS can also be used for various transportation applications, including planning, operations, and safety countermeasures. As a result, the discipline and community are growing, and usage of ABMS approaches is expanding. The evaluation team assessed the role the FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program played in this growth and how the EAR Program\u2013funded research led to further developments and advancements. Beginning in 2009, the FHWA EAR Program began investigating the use of agent-based modeling techniques for characterizing driver and traveler behavior. The EAR Program sought to address technological advancements being applied to vehicles within the transportation network