In traffic simulations, visual diversity is crucial for creating realistic and effective models. Whether you are designing urban mobility solutions, testing autonomous vehicle behaviors, or analyzing logistics networks, the ability to simulate cars in simulation models with different colors and attributes can enhance both realism and analytical depth.
AnyLogic’s Road Traffic Library allows users to create complex traffic systems, and in our latest how-to video, we demonstrate how to introduce a variety of cars into your cars simulation by modifying their appearance dynamically.
Read also: Road Traffic Simulation for City Planning.
Why vehicle variety matters in cars simulation
In real-world traffic, vehicles come in different colors, brands, and types, impacting everything from visibility studies to driver behavior analysis. In simulation models, adding color variety to cars can:
- Improve visual clarity in large-scale simulations
- Enhance scenario realism for presentations and reports
- Enable better identification of vehicle categories (e.g., private cars, taxis, emergency vehicles)
- Provide a foundation for further customization, such as autonomous car testing or fleet simulations
By integrating diverse vehicle appearances, you create more engaging and comprehensive cars simulation models that accurately reflect real-world road environments.
What you’ll learn in the tutorial
In this step-by-step video, we walk you through the process of adding vehicle color variety using an example model available in AnyLogic. Here’s what you’ll learn:
1. Creating new vehicle agents
Using AnyLogic’s New Agent Wizard, you’ll define different car types with unique attributes. This step is essential for introducing diversity into your simulation.
2. Configuring the source block
To ensure your cars simulation generates vehicles of different colors, you’ll modify the Source block, enabling it to produce multiple types of cars rather than a single default model.
3. Writing simple Java code for color customization
AnyLogic allows you to control visual elements with Java code. In this tutorial, you’ll use a simple script to dynamically assign colors to cars, making your simulation models more visually engaging.
4. Running and testing your model
Once the modifications are complete, we demonstrate how to run the model and observe how different colored cars appear and move through the simulation.
Expanding beyond colors: what’s next?
After learning how to modify car colors, you can further enhance your cars simulation by:
- Adding different vehicle types — simulate trucks, buses, or motorcycles to make the model more complex.
- Introducing traffic rules and conditions — modify speed limits, intersections, and road conditions.
- Testing AI-driven vehicle behavior — explore how autonomous cars interact in multi-agent environments.
Watch the tutorial now
If you're looking to build more advanced simulation models, this tutorial is the perfect starting point. Watch the full video and follow along as we guide you through the steps to create a more diverse and realistic cars simulation.
