Deployment and Calibration Considerations for Large-Scale Regional Dynamic Traffic Assignment: Case Study for Sydney,Australia

Dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) has received increasing attention in recent years, and there are numerous examples of practical implementations. This work adds to the literature by describing the ongoing experience of building the first large-scale simulation-based DTA model in Australia. The input data for the model are summarized, and an in-depth discussion and an analysis of model output and the calibration process are presented. Current results put 80% of the 322 calibration points spread across the network within an acceptable bound of error, but the project found that alternative metrics of network performance also must be considered so that other aspects of model realism are not neglected. The described DTA model could be used for evaluating important policy decisions and infrastructural development in the context of the macro- and mesoscale network operation. Additionally, this project is a proof of concept for the Australian region and may provide insight to practitioners interested in emerging areas of transport planning and traffic modeling.