Investigating the Effects of Automated Vehicles on Large Urban Road Networks: Some Evidence from Rome

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility of applying simulation models formalized in the macrosimulation approach to predict the effects from the presence of automated vehicles in our cities. It is based on the use of a robust equilibrium assignment model allowing us to obtain multiclass traffic flows, including automated vehicles (AVs) and conventional ones (CVs) on large real-sized road networks. This modelling framework has been successfully applied to the road network of the metropolitan area of Rome, allowing us to assess the effects of AVs in future traffic at increasing penetration rates and the effects of possible transport policies involving AVs.