THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE TWO LANES OF A QUASI-ONE-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEM CONNECTED BY AN ANISOTROPIC NODE: STUDY OF A MERGING NODE

In the light of the growing popularity of the so-called hybrid or multimethod modelling approaches, we attempted to solve a selected problem in the field of modelling transport processes using the AnyLogic general purpose-modelling tool. Using the example of the controlled selected intersection, the procedure of creating a model with a more detailed analysis of its selected parts was discussed. Later on, the same model is investigated in the light of statistical physics. Using a cellular automaton model, we studied the response of a quasi-one-dimensional system to an anisotropic merging node. The comparison of the two simulations showed non-usual behaviours through the latter. Accordingly, following the patterns of Vehicles’ extraction, we found that the exits of the two lanes are correlated, and a self-organization process governs the node. A cross-correlation test proved that the flows of both lanes are interdependent. Finally, we brought to evidence the importance of cellular automata models in understanding the process of traffic breakdowns in comparison to hybrid modelling programs.