Experimental analysis of different simulation models for motorway traffic flow

The paper presents the first results of a comparison between two different motorway traffic models. The purpose is to operate a comparative evaluation of potentialities and limits in the two different approaches, by applying the models on a large scale motorway network with a complete traffic data base. The two different modelling approaches are: a model based on microscopic traffic theory and a macroscopic stochastic-experimental model. Model performances have been verified comparing some simulation results to the real travel times and traffic flows measured on the network, in non-congested traffic conditions. Travel times of all vehicles from origin to destination have been measured as well as all origin and destination flows by using data from the toll collection system (entrance and exit time for each vehicle). Models potentialities and limits in large-scale applications are also discussed.