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Information content in the Nagel-Schreckenberg cellular automaton traffic model
1Systems Engineering and Integration Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA. mblue@lanl.gov
Summary
We analyzed information content in a cellular automaton traffic model. The set dimension, a measure of information per cell, is consistently near one bit, regardless of maximum speed, aiding data compression insights.
Area of Science:
- Complex Systems
- Information Theory
- Traffic Flow Modeling
Background:
- Cellular automata model single lane traffic dynamics.
- Set dimension and entropy quantify information content per cell.
- These measures relate to fractal properties and data compression.
Purpose of the Study:
- Estimate set dimension and bounds for set entropy in a cellular automaton traffic model.
- Explore implications for data compression and fractal nature.
Main Methods:
- Applied set dimension and set entropy calculations to a cellular automaton model.
- Analyzed the relationship between maximum speed and information content.
Main Results:
- Set dimension approximates log((v(max)+2))2.5, near one bit per cell.
- For v(max)=5 cells/time step, set dimension is ~0.47.
- Information content is largely independent of maximum speed.
Conclusions:
- The cellular automaton traffic model exhibits consistent information content per cell.
- Findings support the use of these measures for data compression applications.
- Fractal properties are linked to information content in traffic dynamics.
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