Estimating Queue Dynamics and Delays at Signalized Intersections from Probe Vehicle Data

For signalized intersections, queue length is one of the most important performance measures. It has been a research topic for many years to estimate the average queue length of traffic signals using loop detector data and signal timing information. This study is focused on estimating queue lengths and delays using the information provided by probe vehicles (time and space) in a queue at an isolated intersection for both over-saturated and under-saturated conditions. Shock wave theory (i.e. the Lighthill-Whitham-Richards theory) is used to estimate the evolution of the back of the queue over time and space from the event data generated when probe vehicles join the back of the queue. By using the probe vehicle information, an analytical formulation was developed for determining the critical points required to create time-space diagrams to characterize the queue dynamics. These critical points are used to estimate the queue length and delays. This formulation was tested on the data obtained from traffic simulation software VISSIM. Furthermore, as a performance measure, total delay for the analysis period is calculated. It has been found that the proposed formulation is useful in estimating the queue dynamics at signalized intersections in under-saturated and over-saturated conditions.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB45 Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Unal, Ozhan
  • Cetin, Mecit
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Probe vehicles; Signalized intersections; Traffic delays; Traffic flow theory; Traffic queuing
• Identifier Terms: Lighthill-Whitham-Richards traffic flow model
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I71: Traffic Theory;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01520275
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-4796
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 27 2014 2:56PM