AN APPROACH TO MODELLING TIME-VARYING FLOWS ON CONGESTED NETWORKS

In mathematical programming models of time-varying flows on traffic networks (dynamic traffic assignment), a key component is the model of flow behavior within individual links. However, to maintain tractability in these models, time-varying link flows tend to be modeled in very simple ways. In this paper, the authors attempt to model link flows more flexibly, so that the trip time of a vehicle on a link is influenced by the flow rate when the vehicle enters the link, the flow rate when the vehicle exits from the link, and knock-on effects from traffic ahead on the link. The authors concentrate on congestion along links, but the model can also be extended. The authors also concentrate on a system-optimizing model, but outline how this can be extended to user equilibrium. The properties of the model are considered and it is found that the first-in first-out (FIFO) property of road traffic holds unless there is a sharp increase in inflows to a link followed by a sharp decrease. Other related phenomena are investigated and the model is applied to simple network examples. The model has the advantage of being linear and having a special structure which may be exploited to develop more efficient solution techniques.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01912615
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

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  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • Carey, M
  • Subrahmanian, E
• Publication Date: 2000-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 157-183
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part B: Methodological
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0191-2615
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01912615

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dynamic traffic assignment; Highway traffic; Mathematical models; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Traffic flow theory; Travel time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Time-varying flows
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I71: Traffic Theory; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00789510
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 25 2000 12:00AM