INTEGRATING MICROSCOPIC SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION: APPLICATION TO FREEWAY WORK ZONE TRAFFIC CONTROL

This paper presents a methodology for optimizing performance of a traffic system on the basis of simulated observations of its microscopic behavior. The method integrates simulation and optimization submodels for describing traffic flow on urban freeway lane closures. The stochastic nature of traffic is accounted for in determining the true system response to traffic control variables. The simulation submodel has been validated at a series of work sites in the Chicago area expressway system. The optimization submodel optimizes a single objective function subject to a set of linear constraints. Preliminary model applications included the determination of an optimum merging strategy to be adopted by traffic entering the work zone in lanes to be closed for traffic. The model recommendation yielded the lowest average travel time in the work zone and, interestingly, did not incorporate many early merges; the latter is often viewed as a desired merging strategy. In addition, the optimum merging strategy varied with the traffic flow level entering the work zone and with the character of the objective function to be optimized.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1254/1254-003.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=INTEGRATING+MICROSCOPIC+SIMULATION+AND+OPTIMIZATION%3A+APPLICATION+TO+FREEWAY+WORK+ZONE+TRAFFIC+CONTROL&author=R.+Mousa&author=N.+Rouphail&author=F.+Azadivar&publication_year=1990
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309050065
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1254, Traffic Control Devices for Highways, Work Zones, and Railroad Grade Crossings 1990. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Mousa, Ragab M
  • Rouphail, Nagui M
  • Azadivar, Farhard
• Publication Date: 1990

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 14-25
• Monograph Title: Traffic control devices for highways, work zones, and railroad grade crossings 1990
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1254
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freeways; Lane closure; Merging traffic; Microsimulation; Optimization; Simulation; Traffic simulation; Work zone traffic control
• Old TRIS Terms: Lane closing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497391
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309050065
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM