Analyzing Simulation-Based Active Traffic Management Impact on a Large-Scale Regional Network

Author(s):  
Minha Lee ◽  
Chenfeng Xiong ◽  
Zheng Zhu ◽  
Weiyi Zhou ◽  
Lei Zhang

A vast number of real-time corridor management strategies have been introduced because the dynamics of traffic patterns and increased congestion result in challenging problems on road systems. Although these strategies can offer positive impacts on regional traffic, their evaluation tools are often limited to the scope of one specific corridor. To fill this gap, this study integrates a mesoscopic dynamic traffic assignment simulation model with an existing traffic-responsive ramp metering strategy. This integrated model is suitable for network-wide analysis and large-scale simulation of integrated corridor management strategies. The integrated modeling platform is demonstrated as a practice-ready tool. We present a case study that explores the benefits of metering control under various traffic conditions in a real-world network in Maryland. Both local and network-wide impacts are illustrated in the case study. This is one of the first attempts to simultaneously analyze network-wide traffic impacts and capture minute-by-minute demand–supply interactions under managed corridor strategies. The results indicate that ramp metering is beneficial even under non-recurrent traffic conditions at multiple spatial resolutions.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
pp. 4406
Author(s):  
Seongkwan Lee ◽  
Amr Shokri ◽  
Abdullah Al-Mansour

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, suffers from traffic congestion like other modern societies, during peak hours but also all day long, even without any incidents. To solve this horrible traffic congestion problem, various efforts have been made from the Active Traffic Management (ATM) aspect. Ramp metering (RM) is one of the representative methods of the ATM and has already proven its value in many locations worldwide. Unfortunately, RM has not yet been fully implemented in Saudi Arabia. This research aimed to assess the applicability of RM to a freeway in Riyadh using microsimulation. The widely known software VISSIM (PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AG, Germany, 1992) was chosen to compare the performances of various RM operating scenarios, such as fixedtime operation with different sub-scenarios and traffic-responsive operation using ALINEA (Asservissement Lineaire d’entree Autoroutiere) algorithm. For the simulations, this study targeted Makkah Road, one of the major freeways in Riyadh, and collected geometrical data and traffic data from that freeway. Analysis of four main scenarios and eight sub-scenarios, proved that overall performance of the fixed-time RM operation is generally good. The sub-scenario 4V3R of the fixed-time RM operation was the best in average queue length reduction. However, the traffic-responsive operation was best in average speed improvement.


Electronics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1021
Author(s):  
Michael Wittmann ◽  
Lorenz Neuner ◽  
Markus Lienkamp

The global market for MoD services is in a state of rapid and challenging transformation, with new market entrants in Europe, such as Uber, MOIA, and CleverShuttle, competing with traditional taxi providers. Rapid developments in available algorithms, data sources, and real-time information systems offer new possibilities of maximizing the efficiency of MoD services. In particular, the use of demand predictions is expected to contribute to a reduction in operational costs and an increase in overall service quality. This paper examines the potential of predictive fleet management strategies applied to a large-scale real-world taxi dataset for the city of Munich. A combination of state-of-the art dispatching algorithms and a predictive RHC optimization for idle vehicle rebalancing was developed to determine the scale by which a fleet size can be reduced without affecting service quality. A simulation study was conducted over a one-week period in Munich, which showed that predictive fleet strategies clearly outperform the present strategy in terms of both service quality and costs. Furthermore, the results showed that current taxi fleets could be reduced to 70% of their original size without any decrease in performance. In addition, the results indicated that the reduced fleet size of the predictive strategy was still 20% larger compared to the theoretical optimum resulting from a bipartite matching approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 697
Author(s):  
Xiang Gao ◽  
Linying Chen ◽  
Pengfei Chen ◽  
Yu Luo ◽  
Junmin Mou

The transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has significant impact on traffic capacity of waterways, especially the approach channels shared by LNG carriers and other types of ships (general cargo ships, container ships, etc.). Few studies take the behavioral characteristics of LNG carriers and their impacts into consideration. In this paper, we propose a framework for capacity analysis of shared approach channels based on the spatial–temporal consumption method. It consists of three modules: (1) the tide module predicts the tidal height and tidal time for identifying the time windows for LNG carriers; (2) the spatial–temporal consumption module is introduced to calculate the capacity of approach channels; (3) the LNG carrier navigation module is for analyzing the characteristics of LNG carriers and the impact on the capacity of approach channels. A spatial–temporal indexed chart is designed to visualize the utilization of the spatial–temporal resources. A case study on the approach channel of Yueqing Bay near the east coast of China is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the framework. The utilization rates of the approach channel and the impact of LNG carriers are presented using our method. The results of the case study indicate that the proposed traffic capacity analyzing framework can provide support for making traffic management strategies.


Author(s):  
Nicolas Chiabaut ◽  
Michael Küng ◽  
Monica Menendez ◽  
Ludovic Leclercq

Dedicated bus lanes (DBLs) are a common traffic management strategy in cities as they improve the efficiency of the transit system by preventing buses from getting trapped in traffic jams. Nevertheless, DBLs also have certain disadvantages: they consume space, reduce available capacity for general traffic, and can thus lead to even more congested car traffic situations. It is appealing to find more efficient alternatives that maintain a sufficient network supply for general traffic while guaranteeing high commercial speeds for the bus system. This paper investigates whether perimeter control (gating) could be such an alternative to DBL strategies. This solution aims at controlling the traffic conditions of a given area by monitoring vehicle accumulations and adapting traffic signal parameters to reach the targeted conditions. If free-flow states can be maintained within the zone, then DBLs become superfluous. This hypothesis is examined through a simulation case study with an urban arterial acting as the targeted area. A dual-objective control approach was applied to allow for not only the vehicle accumulation inside the area but the queue lengths at its perimeter, thereby addressing one of the main issues associated with gating schemes. Due to the gating strategy, traffic performance in the arterial, measured through vehicle accumulation plus mean speed and density, improved significantly. Moreover, results showed that bus operations reach almost the same efficiency level when DBLs are replaced by perimeter control. Furthermore, the availability of an additional lane for general traffic in the control case significantly increased the arterial capacity for cars.


Author(s):  
Zihan Hong ◽  
Hani S. Mahmassani ◽  
Xiang Xu ◽  
Archak Mittal ◽  
Ying Chen ◽  
...  

This paper presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of predictive active transportation and demand management (ATDM) and weather-responsive traffic management (WRTM) strategies to support operations for weather-affected traffic conditions with traffic estimation and prediction system models. First, the problem is defined as a dynamic process of traffic system evolution under the impact of operational conditions and management strategies (interventions). A list of research questions to be addressed is provided. Second, a systematic framework for implementing and evaluating predictive weather-related ATDM strategies is illustrated. The framework consists of an offline model that simulates and evaluates the traffic operations and an online model that predicts traffic conditions and transits information to the offline model to generate or adjust traffic management strategies. Next, the detailed description and the logic design of ATDM and WRTM strategies to be evaluated are proposed. To determine effectiveness, the selection of strategy combination and sensitivity of operational features are assessed with a series of experiments implemented with a locally calibrated network in the Chicago, Illinois, area. The analysis results confirm the models’ ability to replicate observed traffic patterns and to evaluate the system performance across operational conditions. The results confirm the effectiveness of the predictive strategies tested in managing and improving traffic performance under adverse weather conditions. The results also verify that, with the appropriate operational settings and synergistic combination of strategies, weather-related ATDM strategies can generate maximal effectiveness to improve traffic performance.


Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crispen Wilson ◽  
Matthew Linkie

AbstractDespite dating back over 400 years the relevance of traditional fisheries management in Aceh, Indonesia, still remains high. Aceh was, however, greatly affected by the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed an estimated 167,000 lives, including 14,000 fishermen and 59 of the 193 traditional marine leaders (Panglima Laot). This tragic loss of life was accompanied by a substantial loss of local knowledge, such as the locations of hazardous fishing grounds. In this study we describe an innovative project that sought to rebuild a post-tsunami fisheries sector by re-engaging and empowering the Panglima Laot. During April–June 2008 GPS (global positioning system) sounding devices were installed on 53 local fishing boats and hazardous fishing areas mapped based on local knowledge, and shared amongst fishermen. During July–December 2008 nearly five million GPS data points were collected, from which detailed bathymetric maps were produced and shared between fishermen and Aceh government officials. Significant project outputs included a map of fishing areas over 20,000 km2, which included three new seamounts, one of which expanded Aceh's provincial boundary by > 1.3 million ha, and a Panglima Laot decree that reduced fishing in hazardous areas of high coral density by 23.3%. Our findings have wide applicability. Locally, the introduction of GPS technology and sharing of traditional knowledge resulted in fishermen developing and implementing their own management strategies and demonstrating their ability to stay out of restricted areas. Provincially, this project provided a framework through which government agencies and academic institutions could effectively engage with local customary leaders and their fishing communities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Accorsi ◽  
Giulia Baruffaldi ◽  
Riccardo Manzini ◽  
Chiara Pini

Manufacturing, storage, and transportation processes are typically facilitated by pallets, containers, and other reusable transport items (RTIs) designed to guarantee many cycles along a lifespan of several years. As a consequence, both supply and reverse transportation of RTIs need to be managed to avoid stockout along the supply chain and the unsustainable production of new tools from virgin materials. This paper focuses on the business of pallet management by analyzing the transport operations of a pallet pooling network serving a large-scale nationwide retailer. The pooler is responsible for supplying, collecting, and refurbishing pallets. The combination of the pooler’s management strategies with different retailer network configurations results in different pooling scenarios, which are assessed and compared in this paper through a what-if analysis. The logistical and environmental impacts generated by the pallet distribution activities are quantified per each scenario through a tailored software incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) and routing functionalities. Findings from this analysis suggest how to reduce vehicle distance traveled (vehicles-km) by 65% and pollutant emissions by 60% by combining network infrastructures and pooling management strategies—identifying an empirical best practice for managers of pallet businesses.


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