The physics of traffic and regional development

Authors: Dirk Helbing¹; Kai Nagel²

Source: Contemporary Physics, Volume 45, Number 5, September-October 2004 , pp. 405-426(22)

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Abstract:

This contribution summarizes and explains various principles from physics which are used for the simulation of traffic flows in large street networks, the modelling of destination, transport mode, and route choice, or the simulation of urban growth and regional development. The methods stem from many-particle physics, from kinetic gas theory, or fluid dynamics. They involve energy and entropy considerations, transfer the law of gravity, apply cellular automata and require methods from evolutionary game theory. In this way, one can determine interaction forces among driver - vehicle units, reproduce breakdowns of traffic including features of synchronized congested flow, or understand changing usage patterns of alternative roads. One can also describe daily activity patterns based on decision models, simulate migration streams and model urban growth as a particular kind of aggregation process.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00107510410001715944

Affiliations: 1: Institute for Economics and Traffic Dresden University of Technology Andreas-Schubert-Str. 23 01062 Dresden Germany (DH) 2: Transport Systems Analysis and Transport Telematics Technical University of Berlin Salzufer 17 - 19 SG 12 10587 Berlin Germany (KN)

Publication date: 2004-09-01

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