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Proceedings ArticleDOI

OpenEnergySim: a 3D internet based experimental framework for integrating traffic simulation and multi-user immersive driving

TL;DR: OpenEnergySim as discussed by the authors is a virtual world based visualization application that integrates traffic simulation and immersive multi-user driving, which allows users to immerse in the virtual world via a graphical self-representation (an 'avatar'), allowing to develop integrated simulation applications that are conveniently accessible by Internet.
Abstract: In recent years, the use of computer-based simulations in the transportation domain has become increasingly important to analyze and test measures for Intelligent Transport System (ITS) policies. Simulators were built to address several aspects of transport, including traffic, driving experience, and pedestrian behavior. However, as the majority of available simulators are single-user stand-alone systems, traffic engineers cannot easily analyze more complex phenomena, such as the interaction between multiple human drivers or pedestrians. Furthermore, this limitation makes it difficult to collect large-scale behavioral data, which is necessary to draw valid conclusions on driving behavior. Emerging virtual world technology offers a convenient alternative. As a networked multi-user framework that allows users to immerse in the virtual world via a graphical self-representation (an 'avatar'), it allows to develop integrated simulation applications that are conveniently accessible by Internet. In this paper, we present OpenEnergySim, a virtual world based visualization application that integrates traffic simulation and immersive multi-user driving.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: By examining the successes of existing research, this survey identifies potential new research directions in the field of computational narrative and identifies the advantages of developing a standard model of narrative to allow for collaboration between plot and space automation techniques.
Abstract: Computers are often used as tools to design, implement, and even visualize a variety of narrative forms. Many researchers and artists are now further attempting to engage the computer actively throughout the development of the narrative itself. Any form of computational narrative authoring is at some level always mixed-initiative , meaning that the processing capabilities of the computer are utilized with a varying degree to automate certain features of the authoring process. We structure this survey by focusing on two key components of stories, plot and space , and more specifically the degree to which these are either automated by the computer or authored manually . By examining the successes of existing research, we identify potential new research directions in the field of computational narrative. We also identify the advantages of developing a standard model of narrative to allow for collaboration between plot and space automation techniques. This would likely benefit the field of automated space generation with the strengths in the field of automated plot generation.

99 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Several mainstream simulation models used in transportation, communication, and human-factor studies in TCPS research are described and a unique design and implementation of an integrated traffic-driving-network simulator (ITDNS) is presented.
Abstract: Transportation cyber–physical systems (TCPSs) require simulation-based testing and evaluation due to the prohibitive cost of building realistic test beds. Given the transdisciplinary nature of TCPSs, various simulation models and frameworks have been proposed in civil engineering, computer science, and related fields. Traditionally, researchers in different areas have developed their own set of simulation tools, which provide limited capability for TCPS research. In recent years, we have witnessed a growing interest of combining two or more features of traditional simulators to capture the unique characteristics of TCPSs. In this paper, we describe several mainstream simulation models used in transportation, communication, and human-factor studies in TCPS research. Moreover, we present our unique design and implementation of an integrated traffic–driving–network simulator (ITDNS). Finally, we discuss future enhancements that will promote best simulation practices for TCPS research.

38 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An experimental platform that integrated a traffic simulator with multiple driving simulators (TSMDS) allows driver behavior experiments to be more accurate, controlled, and versatile but also simulates special driving behavior or multi-vehicle interactions under more realistic traffic flow environments.

28 citations

Proceedings Article
01 Oct 2013
TL;DR: A system, integrating a traffic and communication simulators with a multi-user driving simulator that can overcome these drawbacks and provides a low-cost testing environment for new developments V2V and V2I applications in a controlled, but realistic way is presented.
Abstract: Cooperative ITS is enabling vehicles to communicate with the infrastructure and each other, to provide improvements in traffic safety, traffic control, and traffic management Researchers from fields of information technology, communication, and traffic engineering are involved in the development of applications to achieve these goals One challenge is the testing of such systems and their impact in a large scale Real-world implementation is mostly limited to test vehicles or test stations, simulation studies lack the human factor, and driving simulation experiments are limited to a single In this paper, we present a system, integrating a traffic and communication simulators with a multi-user driving simulator that can overcome these drawbacks and provides a low-cost testing environment for new developments V2V and V2I applications in a controlled, but realistic way

17 citations

Proceedings Article
01 Sep 2011
TL;DR: OpenTraffic as mentioned in this paper is an open source platform for traffic simulation allowing for tailor made simulation applications that allows researchers to develop new algorithms in such a stable environment, and provides tools for assessment and evaluation.
Abstract: Traffic models are used to support traffic engineers with the optimisation task by predicting the effects of ITS measures before applying them to the real network. Simulation of traffic networks require a whole suite of applications, from data gathering, cleaning and fusion, over origin/destination (OD) estimation and prediction, to the simulation itself, including route choice, driving behaviour and travel behaviour. Thus, simulation is based on several methods and models developed in several disciplines like system control, mathematics, human behaviour, and vehicle dynamics. To improve existing methods or to develop new methods for traffic management, it is essential to be able to test algorithms in a stable environment that allows access to necessary input (e.g. road network description, traffic measurements, incident reports…), and provides tools for assessment and evaluation. This paper introduces OpenTraffic, an open source platform for traffic simulation allowing for tailor made simulation applications that allows researchers to develop new algorithms in such a stable environment.

15 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
27 Jul 2007-Science
TL;DR: This article uses Second Life and World of Warcraft as two very different examples of current virtual worlds that foreshadow future developments, introducing a number of research methodologies that scientists are now exploring, including formal experimentation, observational ethnography, and quantitative analysis of economic markets or social networks.
Abstract: Online virtual worlds, electronic environments where people can work and interact in a somewhat realistic manner, have great potential as sites for research in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences, as well as in human-centered computer science. This article uses Second Life and World of Warcraft as two very different examples of current virtual worlds that foreshadow future developments, introducing a number of research methodologies that scientists are now exploring, including formal experimentation, observational ethnography, and quantitative analysis of economic markets or social networks.

890 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that only the forced and cooperative lane changing models can produce realistic flow-speed relationships during congested conditions, and the algorithms developed for the SITRAS model are described.
Abstract: This paper introduces Simulation of Intelligent TRAnsport Systems (SITRAS), a massive multi-agent simulation system in which driver-vehicle objects are modelled as autonomous agents. The simulation outputs can be used for the evaluation of Intelligent Transport Systems applications such as congestion and incident management, public transport priority and dynamic route guidance. The model concepts and specifications, and the first applications of the model in the area of incident modelling in urban arterial networks were described in previous publications. This paper presents the details of the lane changing and merging algorithms developed for the SITRAS model. These models incorporate procedures for ‘forced’ and ‘co-operative’ lane changing which are essential for lane changing under congested (and incident-affected) traffic conditions. The paper describes the algorithms and presents simulation examples to demonstrate the effects of the implemented models. The results indicate that only the forced and cooperative lane changing models can produce realistic flow-speed relationships during congested conditions.

465 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the same subjects drove a laboratory driving simulator using two visual fidelity levels: a colour scene with relatively high detail, and a monochrome (night) scene showing only road-edge markings.
Abstract: Driving performance in an instrumented vehicle was compared with performance in a low-cost, fixed-based driving simulator. Six men and six women drove a freeway route while periodically dialling simulated phone calls. The same subjects drove a laboratory driving simulator using two visual fidelity levels: a colour scene with relatively high detail, and a monochrome (night) scene showing only road-edge markings. Lane position, speed, steering-wheel angle and throttle position were recorded in both contexts. Lane-keeping in the simulator was less precise than on the road, but speed control performance was comparable. The SD of lane position in normal driving was about twice as large, on average, in the simulator (0.360 versus 0.165 m). Lane keeping and speed control were less precise when dialling the phone than in normal driving, both in the simulator and on the road, but the performance decrement was greater in the simulator. The addition of the phone task increased the mean lateral speed in the car by ab...

381 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings from a comparative evaluation of car-following behavior in a number of traffic simulators showed lower error values for the Gipps-based models implemented in AIMSUN and similar errorvalues for the psychophysical spacing models used in VISSIM and PARAMICS.
Abstract: Microscopic traffic-simulation tools are increasingly being applied to evaluate the impacts of a wide variety of intelligent transport systems (ITS) applications and other dynamic problems that are difficult to solve using traditional analytical models. The accuracy of a traffic-simulation system depends highly on the quality of the traffic-flow model at its core, with the two main critical components being the car-following and lane-changing models. This paper presents findings from a comparative evaluation of car-following behavior in a number of traffic simulators [advanced interactive microscopic simulator for urban and nonurban networks (AIMSUN), parallel microscopic simulation (PARAMICS), and Verkehr in Stadten-simulation (VISSIM)]. The car-following algorithms used in these simulators have been developed from a variety of theoretical backgrounds and are reported to have been calibrated on a number of different data sets. Very few independent studies have attempted to evaluate the performance of the underlying algorithms based on the same data set. The results reported in this study are based on a car-following experiment that used instrumented vehicles to record the speed and relative distance between follower and leader vehicles on a one-lane road. The experiment was replicated in each tool and the simulated car-following behavior was compared to the field data using a number of error tests. The results showed lower error values for the Gipps-based models implemented in AIMSUN and similar error values for the psychophysical spacing models used in VISSIM and PARAMICS. A qualitative "drift and goal-seeking behavior" test, which essentially shows how the distance headway between leader and follower vehicles should oscillate around a stable distance, also confirmed the findings.

319 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis of HMM-based steering behavior models developed using a moving base driving simulator showed that driver behavior modeling and recognition of different types of lane changes is possible using HMMs.
Abstract: A method for detecting drivers’ intentions is essential to facilitate operating mode transitions between driver and driver assistance systems. We propose a driver behavior recognition method using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to characterize and detect driving maneuvers and place it in the framework of a cognitive model of human behavior. HMM-based steering behavior models for emergency and normal lane changes as well as for lane keeping were developed using a moving base driving simulator. Analysis of these models after training and recognition tests showed that driver behavior modeling and recognition of different types of lane changes is possible using HMMs.

315 citations