Coupled Map Traffic Flow Simulator Based on Optimal Velocity Functions

Abstract

A coupled map traffic flow model is introduced, basedon optimal velocity functions. The model is simulatedunder open boundary conditions. Effects of noises invelocity are investigated. The average car densityincreases with the noise level. The high throughput flow isrealized when the noise level is sufficiently large, andpower law behavior appears in temporal spectra of densityfluctuations at the same time. By introducing trafficbottlenecks, a hysteresis loop, which indicates theemergence of traffic jams, is observed in theheadway-velocity plane. Temporal spectra of densityfluctuations also obey a power law in this case, whoseexponent is independent of the noise level.