Traffic simulation : case for guidelines

The MULTITUDE Project (Methods and tools for supporting the Use, caLibration and validaTIon of Traffic simUlations moDEls) is an Action (TU0903) supported by the EU COST office (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and focuses on the issue of uncertainty in traffic simulation, and of calibration and validation as tools to manage it. It is driven by the concern that, although modelling is now widespread, we are unsure how much we can trust our results and conclusions. Such issues force into question the trustworthiness of the results, and indeed how well we are using them. The project consists of 4 Working Groups (WGs) which hold short, focussed, meetings on topics of interest and propose work items on key issues. Additionally the project holds an annual meeting, as well as training schools, where the latest thinking can be passed on to young researchers and practitioners. This report covers much of the technical work performed by Working Group 4 'Synthesis, dissemination and training', and assesses the current situation regarding guidelines for traffic simulation model calibration and validation worldwide, discusses the problems currently faced, and suggests potential ways in which they can be addressed, both directly, and indirectly through the development of the overall field of traffic simulation as a whole.