Validation of a microsimulation of the Port of Dover

Modelling and simulating the traffic of heavily used but secure environments such as seaports and airports are of increasing importance. Errors made when simulating these environments can have long standing economic, social and environmental implications. This article discusses issues and problems that may arise when designing a simulation strategy. Data for the Port is presented, methods for lightweight vehicle assessment that can be used to calibrate and validate simulations are also discussed along with a diagnosis of overcalibration issues. We show that decisions about where the intelligence lies in a system has important repercussions for the reliability of system statistics. Finally, conclusions are drawn about how microsimulations can be moved forward as a robust planning tool for the 21st century.