Simulation of Vehicle Merging at Urban Freeway Merging Area Based on Dynamical Critical Gap Method

Critical gap is generally regarded as a constant in existing expressway merging models, but in reality it is a dynamic variable in real vehicle merging. The reason is that there are significant differences and uncertainties among drivers. Based on the cellular automata model, this paper introduces three types of drivers which include aggressive, cautious and general types, and assumes they act heterogeneously with critical gaps. In addition, critical gap function is modified and applied to model the sequence of decision-making procedures considering the impatience of drivers in the process of waiting for an acceptable gap. According to the established model, the vehicle merging at merge areas can be simulated more accurately. And finally, the velocity-density relationship of the mainline traffic is considered in the condition of forced entry of vehicles from the on-ramp into the mainline. Simulation results show the method based on dynamical critical gap is reasonable and reliable.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1061/41039(345)197
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784410394
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2009 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Fang, Shun
  • Zhang, Xiaoning
• Conference:
  • Second International Conference on Transportation Engineering
  • Location: Chengdu , China
  • Date: 2009-7-25 to 2009-7-27
• Publication Date: 2009-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1190-1195
• Monograph Title: International Conference on Transportation Engineering 2009

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Freeway operations; Gap acceptance; Merging traffic; Traffic density; Traffic simulation; Uncertainty; Urban areas; Vehicles
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01529664
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784410394
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Jun 30 2014 9:44AM