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.     

大型铁路技术装备2008国际展览会——第二部分(待续)

发表于本刊上一期的 InnoTrans2008展览会述评的第一部分主要是介绍了在展览会露天展区上展出的整体机车车辆产品。在本述评的第二部分中则由从事机车车辆零部件生产、铁路基础装备、通信信号和站场设备研发的公司介绍其展品。在展览会上展示出的产品,它们的总休特征是均符合国际标准,这样就可以使生产厂商以最大标准化程度的产品,扩大其销售市场。     

Robust constrained control of uncertain macroscopic fundamental diagram networks

This paper considers modeling and control of uncertain Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) systems for multiple-region networks. First, the nonlinear vehicle conservation equations based on MFD dynamics, presented in earlier publications, are transformed to linear equations with parameter uncertainties. The parameter uncertainties include the destination decomposition fractions, that are difficult to estimate in reality. Then, the uncertain linear model is utilized to design a robust feedback controller by an interpolation-based approach. This approach (i) guarantees robustness against all parameter uncertainties, (ii) handle control and state constraints, and (iii) present a computationally cheap solution. The main idea is to interpolate between (i) a stabilizing outer controller that respects the control and state constraints and (ii) an inner robustly stable controller designed by any method. The robust control is further challenged to deal with different relative locations of reference accumulation points on the MFD diagrams. Numerical results for a two-region system show that the uncertain linear model can replace the nonlinear model for modeling and control. Moreover, the robust control law is presented as implicit and explicit solutions, where in the implicit case one linear programming (LP) problem is solved at each time instant, while in the explicit case, the control law is shown as a piecewise affine function of state. Finally, a comparison between the interpolating controller and other controllers in the literature is carried out. The results demonstrate the performance advantages from applying the robust interpolating controller.     

道路通行权的范畴及行使方法

道路通行权是人的基本权利,对此新型权利存在着界定的必要性。速度优先与行人优先、合理性差别与歧视性待遇、平等观与强弱观等范畴是道路通行权设置时必须斟酌的内容。行使道路通行权须满足相应的条件,行使条件的设置须符合宪法的要求、行政法基本原则及道路通行的目的。道路通行权的行使中应当明确享有绝对通行权的区域、减少相对通行权的区域、鼓励公共交通主体的优先通行、控制占用权的行使几率等。     

基于振动信号和小波变换的转速测量方法研究

通过分析发动机振动信号的基频与转速之间的数学关系,设计了基于LabVIEW的采集系统,利用小波变换的方法提取振动信号的基频,提出了一种精度高、易于实现的发动机瞬时转速检测算法,并通过试验验证了该方法的可行性.经过与实际转速比较,该算法的误差率在1%以内,准确性和鲁棒性均符合测量求,具有重要的实用价值.     

基础交通数据质量评价研究

高质量交通数据是智能交通系统（ITS）有效发挥其功能的基础,建立一套数据质量评价体系是ITS数据质量管理的基本要求。文中采用客观评价法,以固定型车辆检测设备采集的基础交通数据为对象,通过分析引起基础交通数据质量降低的主要原因以及数据质量问题的主要表现,建立评价基础交通数据质量的多维指标体系（即完整性、有效性、准确性、实时性）及其评价方法。研究成果已成功应用于上海市道路交通信息采集系统对基础交通数据质量的评价。     

Vehicle headway modeling and its inferences in macroscopic/microscopic traffic flow theory: A survey

Vehicle headway distribution models are widely used in traffic engineering fields, since they reflect the fundamental uncertainty in drivers' car-following maneuvers and meanwhile provide a concise way to describe the stochastic feature of traffic flows. This paper presents a systematic review of vehicle headway distribution studies in the last few decades. Since it is impossible to enumerate the merits and drawbacks of all of existing distribution models, we emphasize four advances of headway distribution modeling in this paper. First, we highlight the chronicle of key assumptions on the existing distribution models and explain why this evolution occurs. Second, we show that departure headways measured for interrupted flows on urban streets and headways measured for uninterrupted flows on freeways have common features and can be simulated by a unified microscopic car-following model. The interesting finding helps gather two kinds of headway distribution models under one umbrella. Third, we review different approaches that aim to link microscopic car-following models and mesoscopic vehicle headway distribution models. Fourth, we show that both the point scattering on the density-flow plot and the shape of traffic flow breakdown curve implicitly depend on the vehicular headway distribution. These findings reveal pervasive connections between macroscopic traffic flow models and mesoscopic headway distribution. All these new insights bring new vigor into vehicle headway studies and open research frontiers in this field.     

A kinematic wave approach to traffic statics and dynamics in a double-ring network

Recently there has been much interest in understanding macroscopic fundamental diagrams of stationary road networks. However, there lacks a systematic method to define and solve stationary states in a road network with complex junctions. In this study we propose a kinematic wave approach to defining, analyzing, and simulating static and dynamic traffic characteristics in a network of two ring roads connected by a 2 × 2 junction, which can be either an uninterrupted interchange or a signalized intersection. This study is enabled by recently developed macroscopic junction models of general junctions. With a junction model based on fair merging and first-in-first-out diverging rules, we first define and solve stationary states and then derive the macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD) of a stationary uninterrupted network. We conclude that the flow-density relationship of the uninterrupted double-ring network is not unique for high average network densities (i.e., when one ring becomes congested) and unveil the existence of infinitely many stationary states that can arise with a zero-speed shockwave. From simulation results with a corresponding Cell Transmission Model, we verify that all stationary states in the MFD are stable and can be reached, but show that randomness in the retaining ratio of each ring drives the network to more symmetric traffic patterns and higher flow-rates. Furthermore we model a signalized intersection as two alternate diverge junctions and demonstrate that the signalized double-ring network can reach asymptotically periodic traffic patterns, which are therefore defined as “stationary” states in signalized networks. With simulations we show that the flow-density relation is well defined in such “stationary” states, and asymptotic traffic patterns can be impacted by signal cycle lengths and retaining ratios. But compared with uninterrupted interchanges, signalized intersections lead to more asymmetric traffic patterns, lower flow-rates, and even gridlocks when the average density is higher than half of the jam density. The results are consistent between this study and existing studies, but the network kinematic wave model, with appropriate junction models, is mathematically tractable and physically meaningful. It has offered a more complete picture regarding the number and type of stationary states, their stability, and MFD in freeway and signalized networks.     

抗裂防渗水工混凝土基本性能试验研究

提出了一种抗裂防渗水工混凝土,该种混凝土是将钢纤维乱向分散于膨胀混凝土中,形成的一种集承重与防渗为一体的新型建筑材料。文中对其基本力学性能进行了系统的试验研究和理论分析,同时,为探讨钢纤维形状对混凝土增强作用的影响,选用4种不同形状的钢纤维,对异形纤维膨胀混凝土的增强效益进行了对比试验研究。试验结果表明:钢纤维能有效限制膨胀混凝土的膨胀变形,起到限胀、阻裂的增强作用,可以大大提高膨胀混凝土的极限抗压、抗拉、抗折、抗折初裂强度和弯曲韧性,改善其抗渗性能。     

基于正序基波提取器的无功、谐波和负序电流检测方法

有源滤波器能否按其工作原理实现预期的谐波抑制效果，在很大程度上还有赖于对电网中无功、谐波和负序电流快速而准确的检测。通过对幅值积分信号所具有的选频特性进行分析，研究了一种正序基波提取器，在此基础上提出了一种新型的无功、谐波和负序电流检测方法。基于正序基波提取器的检测方法既不需要锁相环、低通滤波器，也不需要将α-β坐标系变换到d-q坐标系及其反变换的计算。仿真与实验结果均证明采用该检测方法的有源滤波器具有良好的补偿性能。