A BI-LEVEL APPROACH FOR CALIBRATING A TRAFFIC SIMULATION MODEL OF GREATER CAIRO REGION

Abstract

Traffic simulation has proved to be a vital tool for planning and operating transportation systems. This research developed and calibrated a mesoscopic traffic simulation model for the exceptionally large traffic network of Greater Cairo Region (GCR). Open source traffic simulation software “DynusT” was used as a modeling platform. A wide range of field data was consolidated from previous related studies. The calibration procedure involved two levels: theoretical-based, and simulation based calibration. A sensitivity analysis on estimated parameters values was conducted to verify the appropriateness of chosen values. Limited discrepancy was observed between simulation-based link traffic volumes and actual ones in most observed links, with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 10.6 %.