The Kasteleyn model and a cellular automaton approach to traffic flow

Abstract

We propose a bridge between the theory of exactly solvable models and the investigation of traffic flow. By choosing the activities in an apropriate way the dimer configurations of the Kasteleyn model on a hexagonal lattice can be interpreted as space-time trajectories of cars. This then allows for a calculation of the flow-density relationship (fundamental diagram). We further introduce a closely-related cellular automaton model. This model can be viewed as a variant of the Nagel-Schreckenberg model in which the cars do not have a velocity memory. It is also exactly solvable and the fundamental diagram is calculated.