Traffic Optimization at Junctions to Improve Vehicular Flows

Abstract

The aim of this work is to improve urban traffic viability through an appropriate choice of yielding and stop signs or red and green phases for traffic lights in junctions with two entering and one exiting roads (junctions of 2×1 type). We consider a macroscopic fluid-dynamic model able to capture the traffic evolution. We analyze different functionals measuring networks performance in terms of average velocity, average traveling time, total flux, density, stop and go waves, average traveling time, weighted with the number of cars moving on roads, and kinetic energy. Right of way parameters which optimize the latter two functionals are obtained. Simulations of simple junctions of 2×1type have been used to test the correctness of the analytical results. Then, global performance of optimization procedures has been investigated on Re di Roma Square, in Italy. In particular, we discuss cases in which the functionals are optimized locally at each junction for different values of right of way parameters. We show that for the chosen initial data the only algorithm for the maximization of velocity assures globally the best performance for the network, also in terms of average traveling times and kinetic energy.

Splitting of Traffic Flows to Control Congestion in Special Events

“…Notice that the exit time becomes stable after a certain initial time value t 0 18.5 for the optimal distribution choice, unlike the random cases, for which t 0 35.5 and t 0 42 . 10.89 r 3 10.93 r 4 11.82 r 5 11.895 r 6 12.75 r 7 13.43 r 8 13.585 r 9…”

Traffic flow optimization on roundabouts

“…More recently, several authors proposed models on networks that are able to describe the dynamics at intersections; see [3][4][5][6] and references therein. These models consider different types of solutions, and some of them have been used for optimization of traffic flow of networks; see, for example, [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Optimization of Traffic Behavior via Fluid Dynamic Approach

“…We focus on junctions of 2 ×1 type, labelling with 1 and 2 the incoming roads and with 3 the outgoing one and we consider p as control (for more details see Cascone et al (2007;; Cutolo et al (2009) …”

“…The two solutions are studied in terms of flow control and the performances are compared. In this Chapter we report some recent optimization results obtained in Cascone et al (2007;; Cutolo et al (2009);Manzo et al (2010) for urban traffic networks, whose evolution is described by the LWR model. Road networks consist of a finite set of roads, that meet at some junctions.…”

“…For a complex network, we used the (locally) optimal parameters at every junction and we verified the performance of the (locally) optimal parameters comparing, via simulations, with other choices as fixed and random parameters. The optimization problem for junctions of 2 × 1 type, using as control the right of way parameter p, every initial data and the functionals J i , i = 1, 2, 6, 7 (while J 3 happens to be constant) is solved in Cascone et al (2007) and Cutolo et al (2009). In particular the functionals J 2 and J 7 are maximized for the same values of p, while J 1 and J 6 have, in some cases, different optimal values.…”