1. Development of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) Simulation and Paramics / VS-PLUS Integration

In this project, we developed a hardware-in-the-loop traffic simulation tool using Paramics. Econolite AS2 controller and a controller interface device were
used in this development. This project was conducted at University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, as sub-award from California PATH Program, UC-Berkeley.

2. Development of an Integrated Microscopic Traffic Simulation and Signal Timing Optimization Tool

In this project, Dr. Liu and his team developed a suite of bridging tools between Paramics simulation model and traffic signal optimization software,
namely, Synchro and Transyt-7F. This project was conducted at University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, as sub-award from California PATH Program, UC-Berkeley.

3. Integrated Ramp Metering Design, Evaluation, and Optimization Platform with PARAMICS Simulations

Microscopic simulators, such as Paramics, have shown the potential to provide a good alterative of the real world where ramp-metering studies  can be tested. This
project is intended to develop an integrated ramp-metering design and evaluation platform for metering studies in Paramics.  The platform has intuitive graphical
interfaces in order to facilitate Caltrans practitioners. Three ramp metering systems deployed in California, including District 3, 6, 8, and 11’s SDRMS, and District
7 and 12’s SATMS, and District 4’s TOS, were developed as Paramcis plug-ins based  on the hierarchical approach established at UCI ATMS testbed. With the use of the proposed platform, both Caltrans practitioners and researchers will benefit in the following aspects:
(1) Training Caltrans personnel how to properly operate aspects of the ramp-metering systems such as initializing parameters, fine tuning of parameters, performance
analysis, and hypothetical “what if” simulated testing;
(2) Designing or implementing a metering strategy to a target network;
(3) Analyzing, evaluating, and improving metering operations;
(4) Testing new metering algorithms and fine-tune parameters.

4. Development and Evaluation of Adaptive Ramp Metering

Several adaptive ramp metering algorithms including ALINEA, BOTTLENECK, and ZONE were developed as Paramics pluigns and they were evaluated in the enhanced Paramics environment.