A new two-level model for multiclass freeway traffic

A new freeway traffic model is presented, which is made up by two modeling levels. The regular traffic conditions are represented by means of a macroscopic multiclass model, whereas the nonrecurrent situations are described in terms of discrete events. The necessary synchronization mechanisms are sought for the overall model to allow it to be used as a simulation model, and some comments on how to statistically treat the real-world traffic data in order to obtain suitable input functions for the simulator are reported. The comparison between the real and the simulated evolution of some relevant traffic variables is provided to give a feeling of the model experimental validation phase.