Deriving macroscopic fundamental diagrams from probe data: Issues and proposed solutions

Well-defined relationships between flow and density averaged spatially across urban traffic networks, more commonly known as Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams (MFDs), have been recently verified to exist in reality. Researchers have proposed using MFDs to monitor the status of urban traffic networks and to inform the design of network-wide traffic control strategies. However, it is also well known that empirical MFDs are not easy to estimate in practice due to difficulties in obtaining the requisite data needed to construct them. Recent works have devised ways to estimate a network’s MFD using limited trajectory data that can be obtained from GPS-equipped mobile probe vehicles. These methods assume that the market penetration level of mobile probe vehicles is uniform across the entire set of OD pairs in the network; however, in reality the probe vehicle market penetration rate varies regionally within a network. When this variation is combined with the imbalance of probe trip lengths and travel times, the compound effects will further complicate the estimation of the MFD.To overcome this deficit, we propose a method to estimate a network’s MFD using mobile probe data when the market penetration rates are not necessarily the same across an entire network. This method relies on the determination of appropriate average probe penetration rates, which are weighted harmonic means using individual probe vehicle travel times and distances as the weights. The accuracy of this method is tested using synthetic data generated in the INTEGRATION micro-simulation environment by comparing the estimated MFDs to the ground truth MFD obtained using a 100% market penetration of probe vehicles. The results show that the weighted harmonic mean probe penetration rates outperform simple (arithmetic) average probe penetration rates, as expected. This especially holds true as the imbalance of demand and penetration level increases. Furthermore, as the probe penetration rates are generally not known, an algorithm to estimate the probe penetration rates of regional OD pairs is proposed. This algorithm links count data from sporadic fixed detectors in the network to information from probe vehicles that pass the detectors. The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm is very effective. Since the data needed to apply this algorithm are readily available and easy to collect, the proposed algorithm is practically feasible and offers a better approach for the estimation of the MFD using mobile probe data, which are becoming increasingly available in urban environments.     

Brake light cellular automaton model with advanced randomization for traffic breakdown

Traffic breakdown is one of the most important empirical phenomena in traffic flow theory. Unfortunately, it cannot be simulated by many traffic flow models. In order to clarify its mechanism, the new brake light cellular automaton model has been proposed. Comparing with previous brake light models, three different aspects have been considered: (i) drivers tend to take large decelerations if the time gap is smaller than the safe time gap and the leading vehicle’s brake light is on; (ii) the brake light rule is set according to the reality; (iii) the randomization rule is put forward before the acceleration rule to weaken the impact of brake light on driving behaviors. Analyses show that the new model can explain the mechanism of traffic breakdown and the failures of other brake light models. Simulations confirm that all empirical features of traffic breakdown are successfully reproduced. At last, brake light models are calibrated and validated by the I-80 empirical data provided by NGSIM. Results show that the performance of the new model is the best and models in the three-phase theory are not necessarily better than models in the fundamental diagram approach and vice versa, at least for the brake light models.     

客运专线网络列车开行方案与运行图综合优化方法

基于旅客列车开行方案和运行图的铁路企业运营效益和旅客出行费用,以铁路企业效益最大化为优化目标,以车站整备能力、车辆总数和列车编组辆数等能力资源限制以及列车到发作业相容性为约束,建立旅客列车开行方案与运行图综合优化的双层规划模型;分别基于旅客列车开行方案和列车运行图的换乘网络进行客流分配,将旅客列车开行方案和列车运行图优化有效结合起来,设计了基于模拟退火的综合优化算法。算例分析表明列车开行方案与运行图的综合优化既能保证铁路企业的收益,又能够有效提高旅客换乘质量。     

考虑前后车速度和减速幅度的元胞自动机模型

三相交通流理论和基本图方法对自由流到拥挤流的相变过程提出不同的解释,双方争议至今没有解决.基于典型慢启动模型规则,本文提出一个考虑前后车速度和减速幅度的交通流元胞自动机模型来探讨自由流到拥挤流的相变.新慢启动模型的减速幅度大小与前车速度相关,两个减速幅度值分别对应缓慢减速和急减速.新慢启动模型的数值模拟结果表明：同一密度值对应的交通状态可能是自由流,也可能是拥挤流;小堵塞集团可以稳定存在于道路系统并有同步的趋势;当道路系统中存在大量不考虑舒适驾驶并倾向于急减速的车辆,在此条件下,三相交通流理论提出的紧致压缩效应不具有合理性,自由流状态可以直接相变为堵塞状态.     

基于仿真实验验证宏观基本图的存在性

研究采用Vissim仿真实验的方法,验证了宏观基本图模型的存在性.通过实测数据的标定,建立了阿姆斯特丹高速公路交通网络模型.为了使宏观基本图能够反映交通拥堵产生的全过程,采用实验对比的方法确定了网络交通需求的大小.通过采集关键参数验证了宏观基本图（MFD）在仿真路网中的存在性.研究分析了不同车道数的临界密度,定义了不同严重程度的路网拥堵,基于仿真数据,用MFD模型反映了路网拥堵的动态变化过程.     

考虑超级街区的城市路网边界控制策略研究

为缓解城市中心区交通拥堵状况,提出基于超级街区的路网多子区边界控制策略. 将城市区域路网划分为中心区、郊区及超级街区3个子区,结合宏观基本图(MFD)建立各子区交通流动态平衡方程;以中心区车辆出行完成率最高为目标,以边界收费费率和出、入口数量为控制变量,建立考虑车辆通道选择行为的路网多子区边界控制优化模型;并以实际路网数据为算例验证模型有效性.结果表明：边界控制策略下的中心区服务能力比无边界控制提高 7%;利用超级街区实现路网边界控制能够有效改善区域交通密度分布均衡性,提升路网服务效率;通过改变超级街区出、入口数量,实现边界控制兼备有效性和实践性.     

三维实体有限元模型网格图的消隐问题

本文讨论三维实体有限元模型网格图的消隐问题。分析了它的数据结构、几何特征及图形表达等方面的特珠性,并对这类图形的计算机绘制计算方法作了初步探讨,提出了一些实用算法,并给出实例。      

SAP2000在桥梁工程中的应用

文章介绍了美国计算机和结构公司(CSI)研制的大型通用结构分析与设计软件SAP2000,对其在桥梁设计方面的应用做了比较详细的讨论,给出了一个简单应用的实例和在三座大型桥梁设计中静力、抗震和抗风稳定等方面应用情况。     

基于DAP和WSD的现代造船工法策划研究

阐述了现代造船前期工法策划对于工程设计和建造的意义,策划的重点是详细组立要领(DAP)和建造综合工程图(W SD),并对其设计方法、设计内容作了重点介绍。深化生产设计的途径就是细化DAP和W SD,它们是船厂造船生产流程的集中反映,造船流程经过优化和整理通过DAP和W SD在生产设计图纸文件中得到体现。