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A qualitative model for the simulation of traffic behaviours in a multi-lane environment

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Abstract

Qualitative modelling of spatial relationships has often been considered as a contextindependent task that aims at a reasoning model in generic form. Despite the primary interest in these models, there is still a sufficiently large scope for context-dependent reasoning in space and time. This paper proposes a qualitative spatial reasoning model, oriented to the modelling and simulation of several cars acting in a multi-lane circuit, which can be considered as an illustrative example of a constrained frame of reference. The modelling objects of interest are individual cars whose cardinal relationships to external cars and actions are modelled. This dynamic system is analysed, and a set of interrelationships is identified at different levels of abstraction, together with inference rules that model the displacement of several cars in a circuit. The potential of this model is illustrated and calibrated using an agent-based prototype.

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Claramunt, C., Jiang, B. A qualitative model for the simulation of traffic behaviours in a multi-lane environment. J. Geogr. Sci. 11 (Suppl 1), 29–42 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02837442

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