Which Traffic Simulator is Suitable for Customized Behaviors in Multi-Modal Scenarios

Abstract

In recent years, due to road congestion issues and environmental concerns, multimodal transport has received an increased attention from policymakers. Fortunately, they can now rely on advanced computer tools. In particular, there are many tools for optimizing travel time in a multimodal context. In this article, we defend the thesis that the simulation tool remains essential to define an appropriate transport policy. Indeed, there are many profiles of public transport users and not all of them rely only on time to build their itinerary. Other qualitative criteria such as the cleanliness of the vehicle, the number of visitors to the stations, safety, etc. are also taken into account. The integration of user profiles in a multimodal simulation is not trivial. This article compares different traffic simulators and simulation platforms for multimodal scenarios in urban environments. In particular, the focus of the study is on two candidates: SUMO and GAMA.