Bridging the Gap between Micro-scale Traffic Simulation and 4D Digital Cityscapes
Longxiang Jiao, Lukas Hofmann, Yiru Yang, Zhanyi Wu, Jonas Egeler
TLDR
This paper introduces a real-time 4D visualization framework in Unreal Engine 5, coupling SUMO traffic simulations with photorealistic VR for urban planning.
Key contributions
- Developed a real-time 4D visualization framework for SUMO traffic in Unreal Engine 5.
- Integrates photorealistic, geospatially accurate VR of Zurich with a C++ data pipeline.
- Features an Open Sound Control (OSC) interface for external spatialized audio.
- User study confirms high perceptual alignment and impact of audio on safety perception.
Why it matters
This framework significantly enhances urban planning by making micro-scale traffic simulations more accessible and interpretable for stakeholders through high-fidelity visualization and auralization. It demonstrates that multimodal simulations, especially with spatialized audio, improve the perception of safety risks, leading to better decision-making.
Original Abstract
While micro-scale traffic simulations provide essential data for urban planning, they are rarely coupled with the high-fidelity visualization or auralization necessary for effective stakeholder communication. In this work, we present a real-time 4D visualization framework that couples the SUMO traffic with a photorealistic, geospatially accurate VR representation of Zurich in Unreal Engine 5. Our architecture implements a robust C++ data pipeline for synchronized vehicle visualization and features an Open Sound Control (OSC) interface to support external auralization engines. We validate the framework through a user study assessing the correlation between simulated traffic dynamics and human perception. Results demonstrate a high degree of perceptual alignment, where users correctly interpret safety risks from the 4D simulation. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the inclusion of spatialized audio alters the user's sense of safety, showing the importance of multimodality in traffic simulations.
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