Nowcast System.pdf

The Nowcast Traffic Simulation System uses online traffic data, including probe data, to estimate the overall traffic state of a target region in real-time, utilizing mathematical models to adjust parameters such as OD traffic volume and bottleneck capacity. The system integrates various traffic data and spatiotemporal models to estimate the continuous traffic state. However, the quality and quantity of observable data are limited, making it difficult to grasp the overall traffic situation. Data assimilation, a concept mainly used in earth sciences, is essential in the traffic field to integrate real-time data and numerical models, improving the accuracy of traffic state estimation. The study analyzes probe data characteristics, discusses challenges in using the data for the Nowcast system, and reports on the results of a demonstration experiment using the Nowcast simulation. The experiment aimed to provide real-time traffic information to citizens, promoting environmentally friendly behavior and reducing CO2 emissions. The study found that the Nowcast system can estimate traffic conditions, including travel time and CO2 emissions, with reasonable accuracy, but further improvements are needed to increase precision.