01349736

Component

http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/165625.aspx

Traffic flow is a kind of many-body system of strongly interacting vehicles. Traffic jams are a typical signature of the complex behavior of vehicular traffic. Various mathematical models are presented to understand the rich variety of physical phenomena exhibited by traffic. This paper provides an overview of what is currently the state of the art with respect to traffic flow theory. Starting with a brief history about vehicular traffic flows, this paper discusses the Greenshields, Greenberg, and Gurein, etc., models. This paper also discusses some basic relations between traffic flow characteristics, i.e., the fundamental diagrams; speed, volume, and density relationships; hydrodynamic analogies; and traffic hump formation (shock wave). It also sheds some light on the different points of view adopted by the traffic engineering community. Some performance indicators are reviewed that allow assessment of the quality of traffic operations. A final part of this paper gives the probabilistic description of traffic flow, distribution of vehicles on a road.

01349716

English

pp 45-62

2011-6

Transportation Research Circular

Greenshields 75 Symposium

Web

Figures (9) ; References; Tables (1)

History; Mathematical models; Speed volume relationships; State of the art; Traffic flow theory

Fundamental diagram; Shock waves (Highway traffic); Vehicle distributions

Highways; History; Operations and Traffic Management; I71: Traffic Theory

TRIS, TRB

Aug 12 2011 11:10AM

• A Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram of Urban Traffic: Recent Findings
• A Simple and Pragmatic Representation of Traffic Flow
• A Stochastic Macroscopic Modeling Framework to Interpret the Fundamental Diagram
• Airborne Traffic Flow Data and Traffic Management
• Analysis of LWR Model with Fundamental Diagram Subject to Uncertainty
• Bird’s Eye Perspective on Traffic Flow: New Insights from Observing Traffic from a Helicopter
• Calibrating Speed–Density Functions for Mesoscopic Traffic Simulation
• Calibration of Steady-State Car-Following Models Using Macroscopic Loop Detector Data
• Effect of Lane-Change Maneuvers on a Simplified Car-Following Theory
• Empirical Relation Between Stochastic Capacities and Capacities Obtained from the Speed-Flow Diagram
• From Inductance Loops to Vehicle Trajectories
• Fundamental Diagram for Signalized Arterials: An Empirical Analysis Using High-Resolution Traffic Data
• Fundamental Diagram on Urban Roads: Myth or Truth?
• Greenshields’ Legacy: Highway Traffic
• Greenshields’ Legacy: Urban Streets
• Influence of Various Restrictions on Speed-Flow Models
• Lane-Change Maneuver Detection with Differential Global Positioning System Data from Probe Vehicle
• Measuring Traffic Flow Using Real-Time Data
• Modern Approaches to Basic Traffic Modeling: Three-Phase Traffic Theory
• Quality of Service Beyond the Traditional Fundamental Diagram
• Strategies to Improve Dissipation into Destination Networks Using Macroscopic Network Flow Models
• Traffic Flow Prospectives: From Fundamental Diagram to Energy Balance
• Treiterer’s Legacy: Traffic Flow Measurements and Characteristics