Civil Engineering and Architecture 8(5): 1006-1018, 2020 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/cea.2020.080527 Development of Freeway Weaving Areas Microsimulation Model (FWASIM) Mahdi Alkubaisi Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Jordan Received July 22, 2020; Revised August 31, 2020; Accepted September 29, 2020 Cite This Paper in the following Citation Styles (a): [1] Mahdi Alkubaisi , "Development of Freeway Weaving Areas Microsimulation Model (FWASIM)," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 1006 - 1018, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2020.080527. (b): Mahdi Alkubaisi (2020). Development of Freeway Weaving Areas Microsimulation Model (FWASIM). Civil Engineering and Architecture, 8(5), 1006 - 1018. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2020.080527. Copyright©2020 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract Comprehensive analysis of traffic behavior requires continuous studies to develop traffic theories explaining that behavior at the microscopic level. The study aims to develop a microsimulation program to evaluate the freeway weaving performance depending on the observed data. FWASIM represents a microscopic analysis of the freeway traffic features. It scans events periodically. The developed FWASIM involves the formulation of driver and vehicle behavior at freeway link, on-ramp, off-ramp, and combine them to produce a flexible, friendly use simulation model. Its concept is mainly depending on the car following and lane change theories. Analytical model validation was conducted based on a comparison of FWASIM output with the VISSIM output. Tests consider the important factors that may affect the traffic behavior for a given segment configuration. The obtained results show agreement between FWASIM and VISSIM outputs. Besides, the field data were used to validate FWASIM. Graphical and t-test methods were used to examine the results. The results are statistically significant which implies that the model provides reasonably accurate measures of effectiveness for the validated range of input data. Keywords Weaving Area, FWASIM, Lane Change, Car Following, Validation 1. Introduction Freeways are considered as the most important elements in the highway system network. Freeway weaving areas represent the critical sections that affect highway capacity and performance. A comprehensive analysis of driver behavior and vehicle attributes within the weaving areas is essential. Such analysis requires continuous studies for development theories to explain the traffic behavior at the microscopic level. Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) manages and processes the real-time traffic data to be used for the development of online traffic management and operation strategies. To face the increase in traffic congestion, accidents, and transportation delay, a field testing solution is required which is costly and cumbersome. Therefore, microscopic traffic simulation model is considered as a suitable tool to develop vast numbers of online traffic management strategies. This research paper aims to develop a microsimulation program to evaluate the freeway weaving area performance depending on the observed data. For this reason, the weaving sections of the main freeway named “Mohamed Al-Qasim” street located in Baghdad city were chosen to collect data. Observed data were abstracted, analyzed and then processed to be used as default values throughout the steps of simulation model development. 2. Research Motivation Despite of the availability of variety numbers of microsimulation models, the need for building new or developing the existing programs is still vital task due to the continuous changes in the traffic network. In addition to that reason, the existing microsimulation models are