A shockwave profile model for traffic flow on congested urban arterials

In this paper a new traffic flow model for congested arterial networks, named shockwave profile model (SPM), is presented. Taking advantage of the fact that traffic states within a congested link can be simplified as free-flow, saturated, and jammed conditions, SPM simulates traffic dynamics by analytically deriving the trajectories of four major shockwaves: queuing, discharge, departure, and compression waves. Unlike conventional macroscopic models, in which space is often discretized into small cells for numerical solutions, SPM treats each homogeneous road segment with constant capacity as a section; and the queuing dynamics within each section are described by tracing the shockwave fronts. SPM is particularly suitable for simulating traffic flow on congested signalized arterials especially with queue spillover problems, where the steady-state periodic pattern of queue build-up and dissipation process may break down. Depending on when and where spillover occurs along a signalized arterial, a large number of queuing patterns may be possible. Therefore it becomes difficult to apply the conventional approach directly to track shockwave fronts. To overcome this difficulty, a novel approach is proposed as part of the SPM, in which queue spillover is treated as either extending a red phase or creating new smaller cycles, so that the analytical solutions for tracing the shockwave fronts can be easily applied. Since only the essential features of arterial traffic flow, i.e., queue build-up and dissipation, are considered, SPM significantly reduces the computational load and improves the numerical efficiency. We further validated SPM using real-world traffic signal data collected from a major arterial in the Twin Cities. The results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the model. We expect that in the future this model can be applied in a number of real-time applications such as arterial performance prediction and signal optimization.     

Increasing the capacity of signalized intersections with separate left turn phases

A separate turn phase is often used on the approach leg to an intersections with heavy left turns. This wastes capacity on the approach because some of its lanes cannot discharge during its green phases. The paper shows that the problem can be eliminated by reorganizing traffic on all the lanes upstream of an intersection using a mid-block pre-signal. If drivers behave deterministically, the capacity that can be achieved is the same as if there were no left turns. However, if the reorganization is too drastic, it may be counterintuitive to drivers. This can be remedied by reorganizing traffic on just some of the available lanes. It is shown that such partial reorganization still increases capacity significantly, even if drivers behave randomly and only one lane is reorganized. The paper shows how to optimize the design of a pre-signal system for a generic intersection. It also identifies both, the potential benefits of the proposed system for a broad class of intersections, and the domain of application where the benefits are most significant.     

Modeling capacity flexibility of transportation networks

Flexibility of the transportation system is one of the important performance measures needed to deal with demand changes. In this paper, we provide a quantitative assessment of capacity flexibility for the passenger transportation network using bi-level network capacity models. Two approaches for assessing the value of capacity flexibility are proposed. One approach is based on the concept of reserve capacity, which reflects the flexibility with respect to changes in terms of demand volume only. The second approach allows for variations in the demand pattern in addition to changes in demand volume in order to more fully capture demand changes. Two models are developed in the second approach to consider two types of capacity flexibility. The total capacity flexibility allows all users to have both route choice and destination choice when estimating capacity flexibility. The limited capacity flexibility estimates how much more demand volume could be added to a fixed demand pattern by allowing the additional demand to deviate from the fixed demand pattern. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the different concepts of capacity flexibility for a passenger transportation system under demand changes.     

Hysteresis phenomena of a Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram in freeway networks

Observations of traffic pairs of flow vs. density or occupancy for individual locations in freeways or arterials are usually scattered about an underlying curve. Recent observations from empirical data in arterial networks showed that in some cases by aggregating the highly scattered plots of flow vs. density from individual loop detectors, the scatter almost disappears and well-defined macroscopic relations exist between space-mean network flow and network density. Despite these findings for the existence of well-defined relations with low scatter, these curves should not be universal. In this paper we investigate if well-defined macroscopic relations exist for freeway network systems, by analyzing real data from Minnesota’s freeways. We show that freeway network systems not only have curves with high scatter, but they also exhibit hysteresis phenomena, where higher network flows are observed for the same average network density in the onset and lower in the offset of congestion. The mechanisms of traffic hysteresis phenomena at the network level are analyzed in this paper and they have dissimilarities to the causes of the hysteresis phenomena at the micro/meso level. The explanation of the phenomenon is dual. The first reason is that there are different spatial and temporal distributions of congestion for the same level of average density. Another reason is the synchronized occurrence of transitions from individual detectors during the offset of the peak period, with points remain beneath the equilibrium curve. Both the hysteresis phenomenon and its causes are consistently observed for different spatial aggregations of the network.     

Real time queue length estimation for signalized intersections using travel times from mobile sensors

We study how to estimate real time queue lengths at signalized intersections using intersection travel times collected from mobile traffic sensors. The estimation is based on the observation that critical pattern changes of intersection travel times or delays, such as the discontinuities (i.e., sudden and dramatic increases in travel times) and non-smoothness (i.e., changes of slopes of travel times), indicate signal timing or queue length changes. By detecting these critical points in intersection travel times or delays, the real time queue length can be re-constructed. We first introduce the concept of Queue Rear No-delay Arrival Time which is related to the non-smoothness of queuing delay patterns and queue length changes. We then show how measured intersection travel times from mobile sensors can be processed to generate sample vehicle queuing delays. Under the uniform arrival assumption, the queuing delays reduce linearly within a cycle. The delay pattern can be estimated by a linear fitting method using sample queuing delays. Queue Rear No-delay Arrival Time can then be obtained from the delay pattern, and be used to estimate the maximum and minimum queue lengths of a cycle, based on which the real-time queue length curve can also be constructed. The model and algorithm are tested in a field experiment and in simulation.     

坚持公交优先,发展立体交通,构建市民和谐出行环境

公交优先发展战略是当前许多国家实施可持续交通发展的治本之选,公交优先体现了平民权利的优先.结合《建设部关于优先发展城市公共交通的意见》和南京市交通建设规划现状,对公交优先策略的必要性、实施公交优先的方法与有效措施等问题进行了深入分析,提出了坚持公交优先,发展立体交通,构建市民和谐出行环境的城市交通建设理念.     

一种基于GPS和IC卡数据的城市公交出行分布推算方法

城市公交规划、管理工作迫切需要信息化技术给予定量的决策数据支持.公交出行分布数据通常基于居民出行调查获得,然而因其调查代价巨大不能作为常态化调查手段.短期的公交线网调整工作更依赖于现状的公交出行分布需求,本文由此提出了一种利用公交GPS和IC卡(含老年卡)数据推算现状公交出行分布的实用方法.当前在大城市常住人口使用IC卡作为公交支付手段已得到相当普及,采用基于车载GPS和乘客IC卡记录能够推断得到全日公交OD数据并用于公交出行量回归模型的标定.模型检验通过后,可结合人口数据和就业岗位资料用标定模型计算以投币作为主要付费方式的流动人口公交OD;叠加两部分OD得到完整的城市公交出行分布结果.该模型的有效性通过2010年郑州市综合交通调查实践得以验证,对其它城市具有借鉴意义.     

国外交通标志设置技术研究

针对我国交通标志现状问题,通过实地调研和文献搜集对国外交通标志设置技术进行研究,比较了不同国家指路标志系统的异同,总结出一些交通标志设置技术的先进经验。     

不同类型交通需求管理实践与探索——以深圳市为例

交通需求管理是大城市交通政策的重要组成部分,提出了基于实施难易影响因素的交通需求管理措施分类,总结了深圳从20世纪90年代中期开始相继实施的一系列相对较易实施的交通需求管理措施情况,分析展望需进一步考虑的交通需求管理措施。针对交通拥挤收费这一较难及重大的需求管理措施,回顾了深圳探索性研究拥挤收费方案,包括交通拥挤收费总体调控目标、收费区域范围、收费模式与时段、收费系统技术选型等,分析了实施面临的困难,并提出了实施突破与替代的建议。     

基于绿色交通理念的深圳市盐田区交通规划探索与实践

绿色交通已经成为建设低碳社会的有效抓手,是当今世界城市交通发展的必然趋势。首先介绍了绿色交通的内涵与基本特征,提出了绿色交通的发展内容与模式;在借鉴国内外绿色交通发展经验的基础上,并在深圳市绿色交通体系及模式的指引下,对深圳市国家生态城区——盐田区进行了绿色交通规划的探索。结合盐田区城市土地空间不足、生态资源受约束的现实条件,采取了空间差异性交通发展模式,并着重分析了地区公共交通系统、自行车、山海步行系统的发展规划思路。