Measuring Autonomous Vehicle Impacts on Congested Networks Using Simulation

Autonomous vehicles offer a wide variety of potential benefits. One commonly discussed benefit is improved traffic operations (that is, decreased congestion, decreased delay, and improved efficiency) due to the way that autonomous vehicles are expected to behave in a traffic stream. In this research, the authors evaluate the effect of varying the percentage of autonomous vehicles in the overall vehicle fleet mix on transportation network performance. To perform this analysis, the authors began with calibrated microsimulation models created in the Vissim microsimulation traffic analysis software. An appropriate set of driver behavior parameters for autonomous vehicles was then determined from a review of previous research including recommendations from the software developer. Efficiencies in traffic flow from connected vehicles was not considered in this analysis. Finally, different levels of autonomous vehicle penetration were tested and compared to the calibrated baseline scenario. The findings are intended to guide decision makers when considering future vehicle fleet mixes that include autonomous vehicles.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB45 Standing Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics.
• Authors:
  • Stanek, David
  • Milam, Ronald T
  • Huang, Elliot
  • Wang, Yayun (Allen)
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Intelligent vehicles; Measurement; Simulation; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01660290
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-04585
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 20 2018 9:27AM