Traffic condition tracking and visualization in virtual city testbed

Abstract

Computer traffic simulation is a tool widely used to understand how humans behave under varying traffic conditions. The Virtual City Testbed is a traffic simulation framework built to closely model human behavior by allowing direct user interaction in the simulation. Using the testbed, human subjects can remotely control vehicles in the virtual environment. A virtual positioning system (VPS) is displayed with the testbed client. It tracks and visualizes traffic, disruptions, and tolls local to the user's position. As traffic conditions shift, the VPS dynamically updates to reflect the changes. Together, the testbed and VPS provide an environment for studying how traffic conditions affect decision making.