01334445

Component

Despite the potential effectiveness of the DLM (Dynamic Late Merge) control, its independent system without the VSL (Variable Speed Limit) control may bring about significant speed variation because of the frequently changing merge strategies under time-varying traffic conditions. Thus, to facilitate the merging maneuvers and minimize potential collisions during the DLM operation, this study has developed a system control process that can integrate the VSL with the DLM so as to maximize the total effectiveness of the highway work-zone operation. The proposed integrated control process has used the optimal VSL control model as a supplementary strategy of the entire DLM operation, and coordinated the sequence of variable message sign (VMS) messages generated from the DLM and VSL algorithms. From the simulation experiment, the integrated algorithm of the DLM and VSL controls has shown to respond well to time-varying traffic conditions and yielded more work-zone throughputs than the DLM control without VSL. It has also demonstrated that the integrated control results in an increase in the average speed and a decrease in the speed variation. In particular, the VSL effect is evident as a supplementary role for the dynamic merge control under the fluctuating traffic demand patterns.

The DVD lists the title of this paper as: Integrated Control Algorithm of Advanced Merge and Speed Limit Strategies at Highway Work Zones.

01329018

11-3799

English

23p

2011

Transportation Research Board 90th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures (9) ; References (12) ; Tables (2)

Algorithms; Merging traffic; Traffic control; Traffic crashes; Traffic simulation; Traffic speed; Variable message signs; Variable speed limits; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control

Dynamic late merge; Traffic conditions

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2011 Paper #11-3799

TRIS, TRB

Feb 17 2011 6:38PM