MARKOV DECISION MODEL FOR NETWORK FLOWS

THE PROBLEM DEALT WITH IS: GIVEN A FIXED-MODE, FIXED-LINK TRAFFIC NETWORK SYSTEM WITH INPUTS DEFINED AND LOCATED, AND WITH VARYING DEGREES OF UNCERTAINTY ON THE PART OF THE USER ABOUT THE SYSTEM; HOW MAY WE GENERATE FLOW CONDITIONS SUBJECT TO BEHAVIORAL CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED UPON THE USERS AND EXAMINE THE OPERATION OF SUCH CONSTRAINTS? A SIMPLE MARKOV CHAIN MODEL IS DESCRIBED, WHICH APPEARS TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE PROBLEM. BEHAVIORAL ASSUMPTIONS OF THE TYPE NEEDED TO OPERATE THE MODEL ARE DISCUSSED AND DEVELOPED. THE ASSIGNMENT OF PROBABILITIES AND THE PROBLEMS OF OPERATIONALIZING THE MODEL ARE CONSIDERED. DESPITE THE AMOUNT OF DATA NEEDED FOR ADEQUATE CALIBRATION, THIS USE OF MARKOV PROCESSES APPEARS APPLICABLE TO THE STUDY OF MOVEMENTS IN SPACE. A NUMBER OF MODIFICATIONS AND EXTENSIONS TO THE MODEL ARE POSSIBLE. THE EFFECT OF THE EXTENDED M 3 MOTORWAY ON THE DARTMOOR SYSTEM, WITH ITS INITIAL IMPACT OF VASTLY INCREASING THE NUMBERS OF LONDON REGION "STRANGERS," MAY BE SIMULATED. IN THIS FORM THE MODEL CLEARLY HAS IMPORTANT PLANNING IMPLICATIONS. /AUTHOR/

• Corporate Authors:

  Geographical Analysis

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Morley, C D
  • Thornes, J B
• Publication Date: 1972-4

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 180-93
• Serial:
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision theory; Highway operations; Highway planning; Markov chains; Mathematical models; Network analysis (Planning); Traffic; Traffic flow; Travelers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Network flows
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic planning
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226342
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 9 1972 12:00AM