Designing a Novel Transportation System Using Microscopic Models and Multi-Agent Approach

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new dual-mode transportation system called MetroCar System (MCS) that produces solutions to transportation problems, especially in megacities. The proposed system combines some advantages of both modern and conventional transportation systems in order to establish a more effective, robust and safe transportation system. MCS is developed as a microscopic traffic simulation model by using a multi-agent approach. The model is prepared and simulated using NetLogo, which is a multi-agent programmable modeling environment. All processes and procedures of the MCS have been defined in detail using a multi-agent approach. Three types of agents perform these processes in a distributed manner. Some processes such as entrance, tracking, merging, direction control and exit have been tested. The simulation results show that the proposed model meets expectations and that traffic flows can be controlled without collision. Thus, a suitable system is emerged, which is more practical than conventional transportation systems and more feasible than the other advanced transportation systems.