A Game/Simulation for Transportation Management

Abstract

This paper describes a game/simulation designed to involve community members in the development and selection of Transportation Systems Management (TSM) strategies for solving neighborhood traffic problems. The simulation is designed to be an educational aid in a city neighborhood traffic management planning process. Through this game/simulation, participants will come to comprehend the large amount of data pertaining to the nature of neighborhood traffic problems, the characteristics of possible TSM solutions to these problems, and the impacts of these alternatives. This comprehension increases the game participants' involvement in the neighborhood traffic management planning process. It also aids in resolving conflicting perspectives among community members who participate in the exercise. The exercise is capable of manual operation in its basic form; however, for computational purposes, it is presented on a microprocessor which speeds playing, reduces complexity of operation, and permits a more elaborate simulation. The prototypical game is calibrated with data for a selected neighborhood in Washington, DC. However, the game can be easily modified to deal with simulations involving other communities.