Customized simulation modeling using PARAMICS application programmer interface

Traffic problems are often characterized by the interaction of many system components or entities and usually associated with complex processes that cannot be described readily in analytical terms. The proven alternative is to employ simulation approach. In the recent years, there has been a notable development in the use of Graphical User Interface (GUI), which makes several stages of simulation modeling much easier for end user. While the GUI is a means of providing the user with a convenient "data interface"; the API (Application Programmer Interface) can be considered as the key that allows users to overcome the closed-box nature of the simulation program used. The need for customizing simulation arises when one deals with modeling sophisticated transport solutions such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications. PARAMICS, one of the widely used microscopic simulation programs of the recent years provides an API but very little literature is available on the successful applications of the API. In this paper, some of our experiences in exploiting the power of the API, which enabled its to overcome some of the challenges faced while developing a PARAMICS-based simulation testbed aimed for modeling ITS applications, are described.