An Interactive Visualization System for Microscopic Simulation-Based Safety Analysis at Urban Intersections

Abstract

This project develops an interactive visualization system for microscopic, simulation-based safety analysis at urban intersections. Using a SUMO-based pipeline, the system combines synchronized traffic maps, lane-level views, and time-series charts to visualize surrogate safety indicators such as TTC, MTTC, and DRAC in real time. By enabling detailed spatial-temporal comparison across different automated vehicle market penetration scenarios, the system helps reveal how increasing automated vehicle adoption can improve intersection safety through larger safety margins and more stable braking behavior.

System Overview

The proposed framework consists of microscopic traffic simulation, safety indicator computation, and synchronized multi-panel visualization. Vehicle trajectory data are generated using SUMO, from which position, speed, acceleration, and inter-vehicle distance are extracted at one-second intervals. These data are used to compute surrogate safety indicators, and the resulting outputs are delivered to the visualization interface to support interactive analysis.

Interactive Visualization Design

The interface is designed as a synchronized multi-panel analytical environment consisting of four components:

• Traffic Map

  The Traffic Map displays the overall road network and real-time vehicle positions. Visual encoding varies depending on the selected safety indicator.

• Time-Series Safety Chart

  The Time-Series Safety Chart presents temporal variations of TTC, MTTC, or DRAC. Selecting a specific time point synchronizes the map and intersection panel.

• Lane-Level Intersection Panel

  The Lane-Level Intersection Panel shows a simplified intersection layout with lane metrics. Selecting a lane highlights its trajectory in the chart and corresponding vehicles on the map.

• Configuration and Segment Playback Control

  The Configuration and Segment Playback Control enables selection of junction, MPR, time, and playback segments. Spatial and temporal views remain synchronized during animation.