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Making a futuristic traffic simulator

Started by Terring7, October 02, 2018, 06:42:44 AM

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Terring7

I'm working these days on a new traffic simulator by using the Traffic Simulator Configuration Tool. My goal is to create a simulator which will be suitable for futuristic cities, by taking into consideration various technological advancements and possible social scenarios. I already have some ideas, but since it's my first time of working with TSCT I'll need some help and advises.

This is my very first attempt. Take your time to study it, if you wish.



Now that you have seen the numbers, please let me explain my concept and my reasons behind those numbers. For an easier reading, let's separate them into technological aspects and social aspects.

Cars and mass transit of tomorrow will be clean, quiet and intelligent. They'll use electric batteries or hydrogen fuel to move around without polluting the environment, their engines will be more quiet, and they'll also be equipped with sensors and AIs and share information with each other to avoid traffic jams and collisions. And yes, the above technologies right now are under development. This is my attempt to make those technologies available for my Sims.

Vehicle Air Pollution is on 0.00 to represent electric or hydrogen-fuled cars. Oil dependency and air pollution can now die in a fire.
Intersection Effect Multiplier is on 0.2. Let me explain why. Cars of tomorrow will be autonomous, thanks to computers and sensors. All you have to do is to give your cars your destination and your car will transport you wherever you wish, without the need of driving. But why stop here? By giving our cars the ability to communicate with each other, it will be possible to detect and avoid each other, reducing car accidents to zero and even making traffic light and sights unnecessary. So the intersections of tomorrow will be like this...



...but even saver, thanks to self-driving cars. That's why I've reduced IEM to the minimum possible. Cars will still have to slow down a bit, but they'll not have to stop if there is no car close to them.
No change to Customers/Traffic Noise Coefficient yet. Cars of the future will be quiet, but I don't want to ruin my commercial zones. On the other hand, I can simulate the lack of sound pollution by better organization of the city, like planting more trees and moving my commercial zones to new places. OK, I'll need some advises here. How can I reduce sound pollution without reducing my commercial zones? Which number you think is the best one to try?

We can predict the technology of the future, but how about the society of the future? Predicting the social evolution is more tricky and there are tons of predictions about it. We can't know the way of thinking and acting into the future, but we can still imagine it.

My game takes place in a money-free, post-scarcity future. My Sims have access to whatever they need, without the need of money and working and without worrying about taxes and unemployment. Machines are making all the hard work, allowing my Sims to do whatever they want and pursue more meaningful things. So no poor and rich Sims, and no need for tickets. Free access for everybody to everything. And if that sounds like socialism/communism, it's not. It's resource-based economy and it's more realistic and plausible than you might think. This is my attempt to simulate post-scarcity for my Sims.

Mass transit will be an even bigger thing into the future, especially in a post-scarcity civilization. It will be possible to build cities designed to encourage mass transit. But cars will still exist even then, although they'll be not as mandatory anymore. To simulate this, I'm playing with the Mass Transit Usage numbers. I've put all my money to the Fastest value, giving my Sims the freedom of choice. I'm afraid however that this is a bad idea. What if all Sims in a small city find my magnetic railroad so useful, that my trains will be more like cans with sardines? Yeah, too risky. Here is another part I'll need your advises. Which is the best strategy to encourage mass transit, while still giving my Sims the option of taking a car? Remember that we're talking about a society with no economic classes, so this strategy should be used by everybody.

Monthly Fares to all types are 0. Remember, free access to everybody. I also hope it will encourage my Sims to use my mass transit.

Highway Bus Lines has been activated. I want to make my buses even more useful and maybe simulate taxis, free public cars or some kind of share-your-car program.

And something personal. I really want to activate the Park & Ride protocol, but then I'll have to pick some nice parking lots and relot them, to make them compact and underground, in order to not sacrifice too much land for parking. We'll see...

What do you think? What would you suggest me? I haven't saved and tested this traffic simulator yet, but I'll do it ASAP. Any idea and advise will be welcomed.
"The wisest men follow their own direction" Euripides
The Choice is Ours
---
Simtropolis Moderator here. Can I help? Oh, and you can call me Elias (my real name) if you wish.

romualdillo

 &apls

That's a great idea! You've taken the Sim society to the next level. Now they're "Simo-Ludens", no need to work anymore...  :D

But, if they don't work, they'll only need mass transit to go to commercial (or massive consume) centres and leisure centres. Office buildings would get obsolete and industrial buildings would be only production centres without workers... Are you going to manipulate RCI demand and jobs to accomplish your vision? Industrial zones without workers, and commercial zones without offices? There are a couple of mods wich can help you with that...

But I fear it brigs us to a distopia, because internet reduces the need of commercial and leisure centres. If you have all your needs covered, or everyone has the same things and there's no need of commercial buildings, or everything is customized and you design and purchase it by internet, with no need of a commercial surface. Cities would became rather static. Would be a limit to consume, either? Introducing money for non-vital things is a way, but someone has to organize everything... Would you supply jobs with a massive bureaucracy?  :D

This question would lead us to really interesting philosophical discussions, but I don't want to bother you more. I'm glad that someone has thought about that for the game, and how to make it more versatile. Great job!

&apls

Terring7

Sorry for the off-topic ;D

Quote from: romualdillo on October 02, 2018, 08:07:03 AMAre you going to manipulate RCI demand and jobs to accomplish your vision? Industrial zones without workers, and commercial zones without offices? There are a couple of mods wich can help you with that...

The closest thing I've made so far was this experiment.

Quote from: romualdillo on October 02, 2018, 08:07:03 AMBut, if they don't work, they'll only need mass transit to go to commercial (or massive consume) centres and leisure centres.

Or to libraries, schools, universities, laboratories, museums, friendly houses, landmarks, other cities, beaches etc. So many options :)

Quote from: romualdillo on October 02, 2018, 08:07:03 AMIf you have all your needs covered, or everyone has the same things and there's no need of commercial buildings, or everything is customized and you design and purchase it by internet, with no need of a commercial surface. Cities would became rather static.

Even if all of your needs are covered, you'll still have the need of doing something. And in a money-free world, the possibilities will be endless. Personally, I believe that in this world the cities will be anything that static. Not exactly dynamic (especially in an uncontrollably way) but more intelligent and alive.

OK, back to the topic ;D
"The wisest men follow their own direction" Euripides
The Choice is Ours
---
Simtropolis Moderator here. Can I help? Oh, and you can call me Elias (my real name) if you wish.

romualdillo

:D (let me continue the off-topic with one more post)
Quote from: Terring7 on October 02, 2018, 09:24:11 AM
Quote from: romualdillo on October 02, 2018, 08:07:03 AMAre you going to manipulate RCI demand and jobs to accomplish your vision? Industrial zones without workers, and commercial zones without offices? There are a couple of mods wich can help you with that...

The closest thing I've made so far was this experiment.

So it was you who made me know "that" mod...  :D

Of course people will still moving, leisure centres was my first thought and the paradigm in all these utopias, but there are other thigs to do. Mass transit would still be used, but in a totally different way. Moving lots of people just at the same time would disappear (except for great events), and that would mean a descent of users and needs for infrastructure. The only negative thing I see in all this evolution is the lack of dynamism you remarked. I think cities would be too polarized, residential-leisure-cultural, but it's only a possible aspect of this evolution.

To sum up, I think is a good statement, and I'm looking forward to seeing the development of your futuristic city.

And back to topic...  :P