Matsim and EMME/2 comparison: The case study of an administrative district (Gangnam-gu) in Seoul

The agent-based micro-simulation modelling technique in the field of transportation planning is rapidly developing and is being applied widely in past recent years. In contrast to a traditional 4-steps model with static assignment analysis, this latest technique employs a dynamic assignment analysis. The paper explains two representative model theories; MATSim for stochastic user equilibrium model and EMME/2 for deterministic user equilibrium model, based on various types of traffic assignment models and algorithms. The two models are applied at the research area, Gangnam-gu (an administrative district in Seoul city) and comparatively analysed the results based on 4 indicators of road networks i.e. travel distances, link volumes, travel time and link speed to reflect spatial and temporal variation of the traffic flow pattern. The results indicate that numerical outputs produced by MATSim are not only compatible with EMME/2, but are similar to those of measured values and more realistic from a temporal point of view. Thus, agent-based micro-simulation models reflect a promising direction of next generation of transportation planning models.