Determine the existence of a parameter-calibration hierarchy

Determine whether a true parameter hierarchy exists for traffic microsimulation calibration that permits sequential calibration of origin-destination, car-following, lane-changing, simulation, and heterogeneity parameters.

Background

Traffic microsimulation calibration involves multiple interacting parameter categories, including origin-destination demand, car-following behavior, lane-changing behavior, simulator settings, and driver or vehicle heterogeneity. The paper explains that errors in one category can compensate for errors in another, so separately calibrating parameter groups may produce different parameterizations and simulation quality than jointly calibrating them.

The authors state that a parameter hierarchy permitting sequential calibration may exist, but that its existence is currently unknown. Establishing whether such a hierarchy exists would clarify whether calibration can be organized reliably into sequential stages or whether joint optimization across parameter categories is necessary.