A Porous Flow Approach to Modeling Heterogeneous Traffic in Disordered Systems

A continuum model that describes a disordered, heterogeneous traffic stream is presented. Such systems are widely prevalent in developing countries where classical traffic models cannot be readily applied. The characteristics of such systems are unique since drivers of smaller vehicles exploit their maneuverability to move ahead through lateral gaps at lower speeds. At higher speeds, larger vehicles press their advantage of greater motive power. The traffic stream at the microscopic level is disordered and defines a porous medium. Each vehicle is considered to move through a series of pores defined by other vehicles. A speed-density relationship that explicitly considers the pore space distribution is presented. This captures the considerable dynamics between vehicle classes that are overlooked when all classes are converted to a reference class (usually Passenger Car Equivalents) as is traditionally done. Using a finite difference approximation scheme, traffic evolution for a two-class traffic stream is shown.

• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B9853-52X1TRD-R-1&_cdi=59087&_user=10&_pii=S1877042811010937&_origin=browse&_zone=rslt_list_item&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2011&_sk=999829999&wchp=dGLbVlz-zSkWB&md5=d5b0cadfa4917023110f8a2e0f8a8c22&ie=/sdarticle.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/18770428
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Nair, Rahul
  • Mahmassani, Hani S
  • Miller-Hooks, Elise
• Conference:
  • 19th International Symposium on Transportation and Traffic Theory
  • Location: Berkeley CA, United States
  • Date: 2011-7-18 to 2011-7-20
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 611-627
• Monograph Title: International Symposium on Transportation and Traffic Theory, 19th
• Serial:
  • Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Volume: 17
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1877-0428
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/18770428/53
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Developing countries; Passenger car equivalence; Traffic flow; Traffic models; Traffic speed; Vehicle size
• Uncontrolled Terms: Continuum models; Heterogeneous traffic; Pores
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01345352
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 21 2011 10:08AM