Microsimulation

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Microsimulation is a research area in applied econometrics. It tries to simulate the behaviour of individuals over time. Microsimulation can either be dynamic or static. If it is dynamic the behaviour of people changes over time, whereas in the static case a constant behaviour is assumed. There are several microsimulation models for taxation, pension etc. run by governmental bodies or academics. One example is Pensim2 which dynamically simulates pension income for the next 50 yearsin the UK. Euromod is a static microsimulation model for 15 EU states.

Microsimulation is also a term used in traffic modelling and is typified by software packages such as VISSIM, CORSIM, Cube Dynasim, Quadstone Paramics, Simtraffic and Aimsun. Traffic microsimulation models simulate the behaviour of individual vehicles within a predefined road network and are used to predict the likely impact of changes in traffic patterns resulting from changes to traffic flow or from changes to the physical environment.

Microsimulation has its greatest strength in modelling congested road networks. Empirical modelling software such as LINSIG, TRANSYT or aaSIDRA provide little meaningful information when a road or junction reaches saturation. Microsimulation models will continue to provide results at high degrees of saturation, up to the point of absolute gridlock. Microsimulation also reflects even relatively small changes in the physical environment such as the narrowing of lanes or the relocation of junction stop lines.

In recent years, microsimulation modelling has gained attention in its ability to visually represent predicted traffic behaviour through 3D animation, enabling laypeople such as politicians and the general public to fully appreciate the impacts of a proposed scheme. Further advances are being made in this area with the merging of microsimulation model data with cinematic quality 3D animation.