Simulation exercise on time perception parameters in discrete-time dynamic assignment models

In order to assess the performance of information systems to road users and of demand management measures, like staggered and/or flexible work times and road pricing, with respect to congestion prevention problems, it is necessary to simulate dynamics of traffic flows on the transport network and users’ behaviour. This can be accomplished by taking into account several aspects such as users’ information level, travel demand distribution over time and the expected smoothing effect of adopted measures and information systems. Dynamic assignment and arrival time choice models and computational procedures to perform this assessment for various traffic scenarios and hypotheses about users’ behaviour are presented in this paper. Moreover, the indicators needed to quantify information systems and demand management effectiveness are identified together with parameters defining traffic scenarios. The main results obtained by applying these models and techniques as deterministic and probabilistic simulation tools are also presented and discussed.