01595050

Component

Control algorithms used for deciding on the speed limits in variable speed limit systems are crucial for the performance of the system. Today, many of the control algorithms used are based on fixed thresholds in speed and/or flow for changing the speed limit. The algorithms are not necessarily reflecting the conditions on the road, which might lead to low traffic efficiency. The authors hypothesis is that by use of a simple and efficient control algorithm that is better in reflecting the conditions on the road, both traffic efficiency and traffic safety could be increased. In this study, four control algorithms used in variable speed limit systems, and fulfilling the above criteria, are evaluated through microscopic traffic simulation. Performance indicators related to traffic safety, traffic efficiency and environmental impacts are presented. The results show that the design of, and the objective with, the control algorithm have impact on the performance. Moreover, the time needed for incident detection, the duration and the size of the speed limit reduction and the location of the congestion are of great importance for the performance of the control algorithms. The results presented will be of importance for design and implementation of future efficient variable speed limit systems.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB15 Standing Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

01584066

16-2880

English

15p

2016

Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

References; Tables

Algorithms; Environmental impacts; Microscopic traffic flow; Traffic safety; Traffic simulation; Variable speed limits

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2016 Paper #16-2880

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 12 2016 5:17PM