A multi-commodity Lighthill–Whitham–Richards model of lane-changing traffic flow

Systematic lane changes can seriously deteriorate traffic safety and efficiency inside lane-drop, merge, and other bottleneck areas. In the authors' previous studies (Jin, 2010a,b), a phenomenological model of lane-changing traffic flow was proposed, calibrated, and analyzed based on a new concept of lane-changing intensity. In this study, the authors further consider weaving and non-weaving vehicles as two commodities and develop a multi-commodity, behavioral Lighthill–Whitham–Richards (LWR) model of lane-changing traffic flow. Based on a macroscopic model of lane-changing behaviors, the authors derive a fundamental diagram with parameters determined by car-following and lane-changing characteristics as well as road geometry and traffic composition. The authors further calibrate and validate fundamental diagrams corresponding to a triangular car-following fundamental diagram with next generation simulation (NGSIM) data. The authors introduce an entropy condition for the multi-commodity LWR model and solve the Riemann problem inside a homogeneous lane-changing area. From the Riemann solutions, the authors derive a flux function in terms of traffic demand and supply. Then they apply the model to study lane-changing traffic dynamics inside a lane-drop area and show that the smoothing effect of HOV lanes is consistent with observations in existing studies. The new theory of lane-changing traffic flow can be readily incorporated into Cell Transmission Model, and this study could lead to better strategies for mitigating bottleneck effects of lane-changing traffic flow.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trb.2013.06.002
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191261513000994
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01912615
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission by Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Jin, Wen-Long
• Publication Date: 2013-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 361-377
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part B: Methodological
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0191-2615
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01912615

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bottlenecks; Car following; High occupancy vehicle lanes; Lane changing; Lane drops; Macroscopic traffic flow; Traffic flow theory
• Identifier Terms: Lighthill-Whitham-Richards traffic flow model
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cell transmission models; Fundamental diagram
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01505031
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 27 2014 10:45AM