JPH0528394A - Traffic flow simulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display with the form to be preferably seen by a user by drawing the simulation result calculated by a traffic model calculating means in accordance with the knowledge base or the displaying conditions set manually. CONSTITUTION:A user instructs the drawing content through a man machine interface 9 to a drawing control means 3 and the drawing control means 3 controls a drawing means 6 so as to perform the drawing matched to the instruction of the user. Input data to perform the simulation are once inputted to a traffic DB 10 and sent and calculated to a traffic model calculating means 1. The calculated result is sent to the drawing means 6 as traffic condition data 2. The drawing control means 3 retrieves the drawing rule in a knowledge base 4 by matching to the instruction of the user, decides the conditions to draw such as the displaying range, displaying level, etc., and instructs to the drawing means 6. The drawing is performed along the instruction of the drawing means 6, displaying data 5 are prepared and displayed at a displaying means 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traffic flow simulator for simulating the flow of cars and people on a road.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The flow of vehicles, people, etc. on a road depends on the traffic flow control method such as the timing of signals that control the flow, the physical shape of the road, and the external physical traffic environment such as buildings around the road. ,
It is largely influenced by these factors, and it is possible to prevent flow congestion and accidents from occurring and vice versa. When improving traffic flow control methods and road shapes to smooth traffic flow and prevent traffic congestion and accidents, it is extremely difficult to actually test the improvement points on site. Therefore, it is effective to evaluate the improvement points using a simulator in advance.

A conventional road traffic flow simulator is disclosed in, for example, Science Police Research Institute Report Traffic Edition 16, No. 1, pp. 1-1.
6, March, 1975, Science and Police Research Institute Report on Traffic, No. 1, pp. 31-37, March, 19
73 is known. These are input data such as road map and road geometric structure data such as road capacity, traffic characteristic data such as traffic volume and straight turn rate, signal data such as signal cycle and split, target speed and average deceleration rate. Calculations were performed using vehicle characteristic data such as the above and model operation control data such as run time and output time interval, and traffic volume, point speed, travel time, density, etc. were output.

[0004]

However, the conventional simulator display method is not designed to display the user's desired place in a format according to the user's request, and the display is unnatural. However, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to understand the simulation result.

For example, when it is desired to magnify only a part of one area and see it in detail, a user who wants to display the area on the entire screen, create a window in a part of the screen, and display an enlarged image of a point to be seen in detail. There was a request.

Further, when simulating from a state where almost no vehicle is traveling to when a traffic jam occurs,
In order to not miss the scene that the user wants to see, especially when the traffic starts to occur, it is necessary to make the small display interval fine from the state where the car is not driving, and see the occurrence of the traffic. It took some time. On the contrary, when trying to speed up the display by thinning out the display, it becomes impossible to distinguish between traffic jams and non-traffic jams.

Further, when two simulations are compared by changing the setting conditions, if simulations in each environment are assigned to one task and executed by multitasking, if the calculation amount of each task is not equal,
There was no guarantee that the clocks would be in sync and we could not make a strict comparison.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a traffic flow simulator capable of displaying simulation results in a format desired by the user, as required by the user.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a traffic model calculation means for calculating a traffic volume on a road, a drawing means for drawing a movement of the vehicle, and a display means for displaying a result of the drawing. There is provided a traffic flow simulator comprising: a knowledge base that stores the conditions for drawing, and a drawing management means that searches the knowledge base and instructs drawing.

The traffic flow simulator may further include clock management means for synchronizing the output timing of the calculation result of the traffic model calculation means. Further, the image forming apparatus further includes an input unit capable of manually inputting the image forming condition, and the image forming management unit can have a function of managing the image forming using the image input condition manually input.

[0011]

In the traffic flow simulator of the present invention, the drawing means controls the drawing means to draw the simulation result drawing calculated by the traffic model calculation means in accordance with the display conditions set by the knowledge base or manually. Give instructions. Therefore, the display condition is set in the knowledge base so that the user-friendly display and the easy-to-understand display are performed according to the simulation result, so that the easily-understandable display can be automatically performed. Also, by giving priority to the knowledge-based drawing conditions, even if there is a conflict with each other, the drawing is performed under the high-priority drawing conditions.

Further, the clock management means manages the calculation time of the traffic model calculation means, so that when a plurality of simulations are simultaneously performed and are simultaneously displayed, the calculation results can be simultaneously displayed. Therefore, a plurality of simulations can be compared strictly and fairly.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the traffic flow simulator of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a traffic flow simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The traffic flow simulator of this embodiment includes a traffic model calculation means 1 that calculates input data and performs simulation, and a clock management means 8 that performs simulation clock management.
And a drawing means 6 for drawing the simulation result and a display means 7 for displaying the drawn image. The user instructs the drawing management means 3 via the man-machine interface 9 to the drawing management means 3, and the drawing management means 3 manages the drawing means 6 so as to perform drawing according to the user's instruction.

Next, the data flow will be described. Input data for performing the simulation is once input to the traffic DB 10 and sent to the traffic model calculation means 1 to be calculated. The calculation result is sent to the drawing means 6 as traffic state data 2. The drawing management means 3 searches the drawing rule in the knowledge base 4 in accordance with the user's instruction, determines the conditions for drawing such as the display range and the display level, and instructs the drawing means 6. The drawing means draws the image according to the instruction, the display data 5 is created, and the display means 7 displays it.

Next, the processing procedure of the traffic flow simulator of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure. First, the traffic DB 10 is read (step 101), and when the input setting is changed, the environment for simulation is set by making the change (step 102). The traffic model calculation means 1
The following data is available as input data required to perform a simulation. 1) Roads ・ Connection information (fulcrum, end point intersection number) ・ Length ・ Number of lanes ・ Legal speed 2) Signals ・ Control parameters (cycle, split, offset) 3) Traffic volume ・ Generation volume (for each major point) ・ Disappearance volume (Each major point) ・ Right / Right turn rate (Each intersection) In addition, the following simulation environment can be input as required.

1) Road, number, priority, starting point coordinate, ending point coordinate, connection information, right turn destination intersection number, left turn destination intersection number, straight ahead destination intersection number, lane type (right / left turn, for straight ahead), lane length・ Capacity (number of vehicles that can exist on a certain length of road) ・ Construction schedule ・ Pedestrian volume 2) Traffic volume ・ Vehicle acceleration ・ Vehicle deceleration 3) Simulation time ・ Start time ・ End time ・ 1 scan The simulation environment in which the time is set is taken into the traffic model calculation means 1, the clock is managed by the clock management means 8 (step 104), and the calculation is performed (step 105). The calculation method of the traffic model calculation means is a publicly known calculation method, for example, Science Police Research Institute Report Traffic Edition 1
6, No. 1, pp. 1-16, March, 1975.
, Science Police Research Institute Report Traffic Edition 14, No. 1, pp. 3
Since 1-37, March, 1973 are used, description thereof will be omitted. The clock management (step 104) is such that when a plurality of simulations are processed in parallel by one simulator, the clocks have different environments (in FIG. 2,
In step 109 and step 110), a fixed time is sequentially assigned and processing is performed (step 104).
As an example, FIG. 3 shows a screen in which the control parameters of the same traffic signal are changed to compare changes in the degree of congestion. Two environments in which only the parameter of signal 2 is different are simulated and displayed on the same screen.

The clock management method will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, each task operates in synchronization with the clock, and messages can be passed between the tasks. The calculation and drawing processing in one simulation environment is assigned to one task. Each task has a simulation management time in each environment. Here, assuming that two simulation environments are executed, task 1 and task 2 are assigned (FIG. 4B). Tasks 1 and 2 respectively perform simulations during the allotted time, that is, one clock (FIG. 4 (c)). Task a is
In FIG. 4D, the message of 1 clock execution end is received from the task 1, but since the message of 1 clock execution end is not received from the task 2, nothing is done. In FIG. 4E, since the message of 1 clock end is received from both the task 1 and the task 2, the next message of 1 clock execution is further sent to each of the task 1 and the task 2 (see FIG. )). Similarly, tasks 1 and 2 are repeated from FIG. 4 (c) to FIG. 4 (f) until they are completed. In this method, since the simulation calculation and the drawing process are assigned to each task, the calculation results of all the simulation environments can be displayed all at once, and it seems as if they are synchronized.

The result calculated by the traffic model calculation means 1 is sent to the drawing means as traffic state data and drawn (step 106), and displayed by the display means 7 (step 107).

Next, the method of displaying the calculation result and the display for inputting the environment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows an algorithm for determining the display method. First, the traffic data stored in the traffic DB 10 is read (step 151). If the result calculated up to the middle is already stored in the traffic state data 2 and the continuation is simulated, the process proceeds to step 153.
The result on the way is read from the traffic condition data 2. If the intermediate result is not read, the process directly proceeds to step 154 (step 152). The man-machine interface 9 displays on the display means 7 a menu screen showing the following contents for changing various parameter values described in the traffic DB, adding new parameters, and setting the display method of the calculation result. (Step 154). Each menu has a DB display pattern for each function command, and the display is performed step by step while referring to the DB.

[Menu] (A) Environment setting 1) Road / connection information (fulcrum, end intersection number) -Length / lane number / legal speed 2) Signal / control parameter (cycle, split, offset) 3) Traffic volume・ Amount of generation (for each major point) ・ Amount of disappearance (for each major point) ・ Right and left turn rate (for each intersection) (B) Display method of simulation results ・ Display area ・ Display level summary display (line drawing), detailed display (up and down) Line-by-line, lane-by-vehicle) ・ Display speed, display interval (Once every 10 seconds, every second) ・ Evaluation function ・ Travel time ・ Traffic length ・ Passing vehicle ・ Average speed ・ Occupancy menu Is selected (step 15
5), the setting end command is input (step 15).
In the case of 6), the traffic data is sent to the traffic model calculation means 1, the process proceeds to step 164, and the simulation is performed (step 155). When the traffic data or the display method is changed on the menu screen, the process proceeds to step 157 (step 156). In step 157, if it is necessary to change the traffic condition data, step 168
Proceed to and rewrite the traffic condition data 10, step 15
Return to 4. If traffic data has not changed, step 1
Proceed to 58. In step 158, if there is a change in the display method, the process proceeds to step 159, and if there is no change, the process returns to step 154. In step 159, the change of the display method is accepted by the drawing management means 6 and step 1
Proceed to 60. In step 160, the drawing management means 6
The knowledge base 4 is searched, and the rule corresponding to the changed display method is selected.

The knowledge base 4 stores the following rules.

Rules stored in the "knowledge base" 1) When a section where normal driving cannot be performed is recognized, a window is opened, and a portion with a radius Xm is expanded from a point where normal driving cannot be performed, and each vehicle is indicate. 2) If the congestion level is X or higher, display the number of vehicles by lane. 3) If the drawing range is X or more, the road is displayed as a line. 4) If the drawing range is Y or more and X or less, the thickness w1 for national roads and above
Then, the other roads are written with a thickness w2. 5) If the drawing range is Y or less, roads with a density of Z or more are displayed. 6) If the number of lanes is X or more, the lanes are integrated and the number of vehicles is displayed. X, Y, Z, w1 and w2 in each rule described above can be set arbitrarily. Further, in the above rules 1 to 6, the smaller the number is, the higher the priority is, and when two or more rules conflict with each other, the rule with the higher priority acts. In addition, the knowledge base can further have the following rules. These priorities can be set arbitrarily.

"Knowledge base" and other rules 7) For national roads, the number of vehicles is displayed for each lane. 8) The city road displays the number of cars by integrating the lanes. 9) If the rate of change in congestion length is X or more, display every second. 10) If the rate of change in congestion length is X or less, display once every 10 seconds. 11) If the calculation time zone of the simulation is work time, it is displayed every second. 12) If the calculation time of the simulation is midnight, 3
Display once every 0 seconds. 13) If the environment setting target is a signal, an icon for signal parameter adjustment is displayed. 14) If the environment setting target is a road, a road parameter adjustment icon is displayed. 15) If the scale is X or more, display the number of cars by lane. 16) If the scale is less than or equal to X, display the number of vehicles including the upper and lower lanes. 17) When there is a request for travel time measurement and a departure point and an end point are specified, route search is performed. A knowledge base search method will be described with reference to FIG. The instruction unit 3c, which has received the designation of the display method via the man-machine interface 9, translates the instruction into words that can be compared with the rules in the knowledge base by the rule translation unit 3e. The search unit 3b searches the knowledge base 10, and the rule determination unit 3d determines a rule to be used by using a rule with a high priority and sequentially inputs the rule to the display management table 3a. When all the display management values are determined, the display management table 3a is sent to the drawing means 6 and the drawing instruction is given.

FIG. 5A shows an example of the display method management table 3a, and FIG. 5B shows a display example of roads displayed according to the display management table 3a. Road 1 indicates a lined road. The widths of the roads 2, 3, 5 and 6 are shown. Road 4 is displayed for each lane. The traffic volume separately indicates the number of roads 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. For road 1, the number is not displayed.

It is also possible to use a manual management means that is set by a person in detail, such as a display area or a display level such as whether to display each lane finely or as a single road without using a knowledge base.

An example of the display screen displayed on the display means will be described below. In FIG. 10, since the drawing range is equal to or larger than the set X, according to the rule 4 of the knowledge base 4,
Roads are displayed as lines, and the line thickness indicates the thickness of roads classified into classes. The classification is set according to whether it is a national road.

FIG. 11 is a screen in which the area shown by the dotted line in FIG. 10 is enlarged and displayed. In FIG. 11, according to rule 5 of knowledge base 4, national roads with a density of Z or higher are displayed.

In FIG. 12, since the road X has started to become congested due to construction, a window is opened according to Rule 1 of Knowledge Base 4 and normal traveling is impossible (construction point in FIG. 12).
The surrounding area is magnified to show each car.

FIG. 14 is a screen in which a window is opened in a part of the screen of FIG. 11 and the calculation results of travel time, length of congestion, the number of stops, etc. are displayed. Although not described in the rule of the knowledge base 4 described above, the result is displayed, the elapsed time is displayed, and the progress is displayed using a table or a graph as the display level of the travel time evaluation unit. The traveling vehicle can be displayed in real time on the map.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a method of designating a display area. This system can use not only the method of specifying a diagonal with a mouse but also a method of specifying an arbitrary road or intersection, or a town / ward name.

FIG. 16 is a diagram in which the display interval is variable. The drawing management means 3 determines the display interval based on the change in road conditions and the knowledge base. For example, since there aren't many cars running at midnight or early morning, rule 1 of Knowledge Base 4
According to 2, fast forward display is performed, and since congestion occurs when commuting to work or when leaving work, it is displayed for each simulation cycle in accordance with Rule 11 of Knowledge Base 4. Alternatively,
The drawing management means 6 refers to the knowledge base 4 and road conditions,
When it is determined that the display interval set at the present time is too rough, the road condition between the time t1 and the time t2 is smoothed as shown in FIG. 17 in addition to the rule of the knowledge base 4. To interpolate the screen of the road situation to
An instruction is given via the man-machine interface 9.

Next, a data management method inside the simulator for performing each of the above-mentioned display methods at a higher speed will be described.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the hierarchization of the road network. Here, for example, although there are two levels of hierarchy, the upper hierarchy is at the national road level and the lower hierarchy is at the prefectural road / city road level, depending on the classification of roads. In order to reflect such a hierarchical structure on the display, it is possible to index each road and switch the display with a certain threshold value.

Further, when it is desired to display the intersection a in FIG. 19, for example, the road x and the signal 1 related to the intersection a,
If data such as 2, 3, 4, etc. are connected in a list in advance, it is not necessary to search all the data to be displayed by tracing the data associated with the data at the intersection a, so the processing speed does not deteriorate. . Alternatively, if an index is attached to each group such as a data group related to the intersection a and a data group related to the intersection b, and a multiple index is added to each data, it is not necessary to search for the related data, so that the display area is sequentially displayed. Even if changed, the display speed does not deteriorate.

FIG. 20 is a screen displaying a menu for accepting various parameter change / correction commands.
The man-machine interface provides a menu for accepting parameter settings in advance. For example, as a procedure for inputting and modifying various parameters, the menu 1 for parameter setting is selected, and then the road or signal to be set is selected. . The man-machine interface displays a menu for setting according to the selected setting target. For example,
Menu 2 for signals and menu 3 for roads.

FIG. 21 is a screen on which the area of the drawing range is designated. As a method of designating an area, for example, when designating by a road name, there is a method of directly designating on the screen with a mouse or inputting at a text level.

FIG. 8 is an example of a menu for receiving a command for enlarging / reducing the display screen. As previously mentioned,
The drawing management means determines the display level according to the scale of the display and the road condition.

FIG. 9 is an example of a menu for accepting a command for measuring travel time. For example, the drawing management means instructs the drawing means to display a state during measurement by displaying a monitor car as the measuring means on a map on the screen, or drawing data for displaying a graph or the like showing a running result.

FIG. 13 shows an example of an icon for receiving a command for designating the display interval. Although the drawing management means basically follows the display interval set here,
The display interval is sequentially adjusted according to changes in road conditions.

Next, an example of the operation procedure of the simulator until the above-mentioned various function commands are executed will be described. First of all, when the entire map of the initial screen is displayed, a part of it is enlarged and the area you want to see is specified with the mouse (Fig. 1
0). Then, in order to see the effect of the signal on the traffic flow, the control parameter of the traffic signal is changed (FIG. 20) and simulation is performed (FIG. 3). Optimal signal control parameters can be determined by comparing the congestion levels under each condition.

When it is desired to know the time required to reach the destination, the start point, the end point and the relay point are designated. Then, the elapsed time and the monitor car are selected as the evaluation means (FIG. 9). During execution, the display screen is as shown in FIG.

If it is desired to alleviate the traffic jam but the cause cannot be specified by humans, there is a method of automatically performing the operation and displaying the information automatically. First, try simulating with the initial screen, and if the traffic model calculation unit can identify the location causing the traffic jam, the drawing management means expands the area near the identified cause and displays the detailed display. Instruct to display at level.

As described above, the traffic flow simulator of this embodiment has the display rules and the display intervals having the priorities in the knowledge base 4, and the simulation results are assigned to the road class, the trouble occurrence point, the intersection, etc. Can be displayed accordingly. Therefore, it is possible to mix displays of different enlargement ratios in one screen, and to increase the display interval according to the road conditions. Further, by displaying the icon on the screen, the display of the result is easy to understand.

Further, conventionally, when it is desired to obtain the results of a plurality of simulations at the same time, it has been necessary to perform a complicated operation for simultaneously ending the simulations such as temporarily stopping one hard copy or execution. By using the clock management of the present embodiment, even when a plurality of simulations are simultaneously executed, it is possible to display a plurality of simulation results at the same time, and it is possible to fairly compare and evaluate the simulation results.

[0045]

As to the display method of the simulation,
The display speed, display level, display area, etc. can be displayed at high speed according to the situation of the calculation result of the simulation model. Further, the clock management allows a plurality of simulation results to be obtained at the same time.

Therefore, by using the present invention, it is possible to provide a traffic flow simulator capable of displaying the simulation result in a format desired by the user, as required by the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a traffic flow simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 3] Example of display screen when two simulations are performed simultaneously

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a clock management processing method.

FIG. 5 (a) Example of display management table (b) Example of road display

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of drawing management means.

FIG. 7: Algorithm for determining display method

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 16 shows a variable display interval.

FIG. 17 shows a variable display interval.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a hierarchy of a road network.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a data list structure.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Traffic model calculation means, 2 ... Traffic state data, 3 ... Drawing management means, 4 ... Knowledge base, 5 ... Display data, 6 ... Drawing means, 7 ... Display means, 8 ... Clock management means, 9 ... Man-machine interface 10 ... Traffic DB,

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A traffic model calculation means for calculating a traffic volume on a road, a drawing means for drawing a movement of the vehicle, a display means for displaying a result of the drawing, and a knowledge base for storing conditions for the drawing. And a drawing management means for retrieving the knowledge base and instructing drawing, a traffic flow simulator. 2. The traffic flow simulator according to claim 1, further comprising clock management means for synchronizing the output timing of the calculation result of the traffic model calculation means. 3. The traffic flow simulator according to claim 1, further comprising clock management means for synchronizing output display timings of a plurality of calculation results of the traffic model calculation means for different traffic conditions. 4. The image forming device according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit capable of manually inputting the drawing condition, wherein the drawing management unit manages the drawing using the manually input drawing condition. A traffic flow simulator characterized by having functions. 5. The display condition of the knowledge base according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the drawing management means determines the display condition according to the priority. Traffic flow simulator. 6. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
The traffic flow simulator, wherein the display means displays a plurality of displays with different magnifications in a mixed manner on one screen. 7. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.
The traffic flow simulator, wherein the display means displays a mixture of displays with different degrees of detail on one screen. 8. The image displayed on the display means according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the roads are classified into classes and the roads are displayed differently according to the class. A traffic flow simulator characterized by: 9. The traffic flow simulator according to claim 8, wherein the roads are classified according to traffic volume on the roads. 10. The traffic simulator according to claim 8, wherein the roads are classified according to a road structure. 11. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, or 10, the display means has a window function for displaying at least one or more windows, and any one of the windows has one of a travel time measurement, a signal parameter, a congestion length, and the number of stops. A traffic volume simulator having a display function of displaying one or a combination of these and an instruction receiving function of receiving an instruction from the outside for the display function. 12. The traffic volume simulator according to claim 11, wherein an image of the received content is displayed in a window when the instruction receiving function receives an instruction. 13. The traffic amount simulator according to claim 12, wherein when the instruction received by the reception function is to measure travel time, the travel time measurement value is displayed from the simulation result of the traffic model calculation means. . 14. The display means according to claim 12 or 13 displays a monitor vehicle and a mark indicating a start point / end point, and the traffic model calculation means moves the monitor vehicle to a road between the start point / end point marks. A traffic simulator, wherein the travel time is calculated by calculating a time required for it. 15. The drawing control means according to claim 1, wherein the drawing management means instructs the drawing means to lengthen the time interval for drawing when the change of the road traffic volume designated in advance is small, and to shorten the time interval for drawing when the change is large. A traffic flow simulator characterized by that.