01557699

Component

In this paper, the concept of traffic contour map (TCM) is introduced to examine the network traffic flow from an alternative perspective. Compared with the traditional network analysis methods such as traffic status map and the recently proposed macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD), TCM offers distinct advantages of conducting network-level analysis with more reliable and easy-to-collect data. The single origin based contour map is defined and four critical parameters, namely the density, the contour line angle, the average propagation rate of traffic, and the average spatial expansion rate of traffic, are defined, characterized and interpreted for both qualitative and quantitative network traffic flow analysis. Meanwhile, three types of TCMs, the design TCM, the static TCM, and the dynamic TCM, are introduced and their features are discussed. Illustrative examples are presented to highlight the advantages and potential applications of the traffic contour map in network flow analysis and traffic management.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB45 Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics.

01550057

15-3633

English

17p

2015

Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Highway traffic control; Traffic flow

Traffic contour maps

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I71: Traffic Theory

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2015 Paper #15-3633

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 1:12PM