Assessing the impact of reduced visibility on traffic crash risk using microscopic data and surrogate safety measures

Due to the difficulty of obtaining accurate real-time visibility and vehicle based traffic data at the same time, there are only few research studies that addressed the impact of reduced visibility on traffic crash risk. This research was conducted based on a new visibility detection system by mounting visibility sensor arrays combined with adaptive learning modules to provide more accurate visibility detections. The vehicle-based detector, Wavetronix SmartSensor HD, was installed at the same place to collect traffic data. Reduced visibility due to fog were selected and analyzed by comparing them with clear cases to identify the differences based on several surrogate measures of safety under different visibility classes. Moreover, vehicles were divided into different types and the vehicles in different lanes were compared in order to identify whether the impact of reduced visibility due to fog on traffic crash risk varies depending on vehicle types and lanes. Log-Inverse Gaussian regression modeling was then applied to explore the relationship between time to collision and visibility together with other traffic parameters. Based on the accurate visibility and traffic data collected by the new visibility and traffic detection system, it was concluded that reduced visibility would significantly increase the traffic crash risk especially rear-end crashes and the impact on crash risk was different for different vehicle types and for different lanes. The results would be helpful to understand the change in traffic crash risk and crash contributing factors under fog conditions. We suggest implementing the algorithms in real-time and augmenting it with ITS measures such as VSL and DMS to reduce crash risk.     

Tradable network permits: A new scheme for the most efficient use of network capacity

Akamatsu et al. (2006) proposed a new transportation demand management scheme called “tradable bottleneck permits” (TBP), and proved its efficiency properties for a single bottleneck model. This paper explores the properties of a TBP system for general networks. An equilibrium model is first constructed to describe the states under the TBP system with a single OD pair. It is proved that equilibrium resource allocation is efficient in the sense that the total transportation cost in a network is minimized. It is also shown that the “self-financing principle” holds for the TBP system. Furthermore, theoretical relationships between TBP and congestion pricing (CP) are discussed. It is demonstrated that TBP has definite advantages over CP when demand information is not perfect, whereas both TBP and CP are equivalent for the perfect information case. Finally, it is shown that the efficiency result also holds for more general demand conditions.     

Agent-based simulation framework for mixed traffic of cars,pedestrians and trams

In this paper, we report on the construction of a new framework for simulating mixed traffic consisting of cars, trams, and pedestrians that can be used to support discussions about road management, signal control, and public transit. Specifically, a layered road structure that was designed for car traffic simulations was extended to interact with an existing one-dimensional (1D) car-following model and a two-dimensional (2D) discrete choice model for pedestrians. The car model, pedestrian model, and interaction rules implemented in the proposed framework were verified through simulations involving simple road environments. The resulting simulated values were in near agreement with the empirical data. We then used the proposed framework to assess the impact of a tramway extension plan for a real city. The simulation results showed that the impact of the proposed tramway on existing car traffic would not be serious, and by extension, implied that the proposed framework could help stakeholders decide on expansion scenarios that are satisfactory to both tram users and private car owners.     

Japanese perspective of driver information systems

A perspective view of of Japanese R&D activities of Driver Information Systems is given from the standpoint of developing joint projects by public and private sectors. First, a brief history of the R&D activities is illustrated from above mentioned standpoint. Then, two major projects, AMTICS and RACS, and the social backgrounds of these projects are explained. In order to give a clear idea of both projects some technical details are treated.Based on the history and the present status of the developments, the basic design conceptions of Japanese Driver Information Systems are explained and several factors or reasons which have influenced to the design conception are discussed. Then, the promoting systems of the R&D activities are generally explained and present status of the projects and future problems in developing more advanced systems are also handled. A brief discussion on the establishment of international standard is also mentioned as a final comment.     

铁路既有繁忙干线货运产品布局优化模型及算法

采用节点拆分的方式构建了既有繁忙干线货运产品网络，在此基础上按运输需求的特征对其分类并借鉴服务网络设计的思想，设计了既有繁忙干线铁路货运产品布局优化模型，采用免疫克隆变邻域搜索算法对模型进行求解，最后采用算例对模型和算法进行验证分析，测试结果表明模型和算法具有较好的适用性．     

主曲线方法在交通安全数据分析中的应用

针对交通安全数据的非参数性,将主曲线方法应用于交通安全数据分析.通过未知分布数据集的HS主曲线算法对交通安全数据进行分析后,得到一条通过数据集合中间的曲线,来描述该数据集合的特征,以此作为执行管理标准的依据.研究表明,交通安全数据集的主曲线能够较好的描述出数据本身所具有的非线性关系,可以作为执行管理标准的依据.     

一类含特殊路段的城市干道协调控制方法研究

在分析特殊路段交通特性及需求的基础上,对一类含特殊路段的城市干道协调控制方法进行了研究,提出基于主动性思维设计控制策略。通过干道协调控制人为调节关联交叉口交通阻抗来影响用户的交通行为选择,从而在某种程度上限制特殊路段交通的过度增长,在保障路段交通安全的基础上充分发挥交通效益。针对南方某城市隧道的实地情况和流量数据,设计出根据流量和排队长度两个参数综合选择实时控制方案的方法,进而说明该控制方法的具体实现及仿真效果。试验证明该方法对一类含特殊路段的城市干道协调控制具有指导意义。     

基于模糊神经网络的驾驶员弯道安全感受预测模型研究

论述了在人-车-路(环境)系统中驾驶员弯道安全感受的非线性特性。为了体现车辆、道路结构对驾驶员认知过程的作用和认知结果形成的影响,驾驶员弯道安全感受模型采用弯道平曲半径、车辆运行速度和驾驶员驾龄作为道路线形、车辆结构动力性、驾驶员经验的主要特征参数集,在增加积极和消极补偿运算的基础上,构建出模糊逻辑推理规则与神经网络优化逼近运算相互结合的5层推理预测模型,并结合实例数据,进行了对比分析验证,表明5层结构模型能够较好的满足特定弯道条件下驾驶员主观安全感受的认知推理预测要求,能够准确的、稳定的再现出驾驶员主观安全感受同驾龄、平曲半径和车辆运行速度间的相互作用关系。     

高速公路场景图像的二值化及交通标志定位检测方法

采用CCD摄像机采集高速公路场景图像，并通过图像颜色空间变换，将图像的RGB量值转换为色度-饱和度-亮度（HSV）量值。采用基于阈值的方法对场景图像中颜色饱和度分量进行二值化分割处理；利用场景二值化图像形状特征（周长、形状参数、圆形性参数）去除非目标区域，并通过搜索场景二值化图像方向投影值序列的突变点实现标志准确定位。采用HSV颜色模型中的亮度分量和最佳阈值法对场景图像中标志区域进行二值化处理。结果表明，应用上述方法能取得良好的效果。     

高速公路互通立交安全性设计研究

实现立交线形指标与交通流量、车辆行驶速度及司乘人员自然舒适感受三者之间的协调统一,是立交安全性设计的3大评价指标。以广州市北三环高速公路石滩立交的设计为例,研究分析了立交安全性设计应注意的若干问题。