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Macroscopic relations of urban traffic variables: Bifurcations, multivaluedness and instability

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  • Daganzo, Carlos F.
  • Gayah, Vikash V.
  • Gonzales, Eric J.

Abstract

Recent experimental work has shown that the average flow and average density within certain urban networks are related by a unique, reproducible curve known as the Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD). For networks consisting of a single route this MFD can be predicted analytically; but when the networks consist of multiple overlapping routes experience shows that the flows observed in congestion for a given density are less than those one would predict if the routes were homogeneously congested and did not overlap. These types of networks also tend to jam at densities that are only a fraction of their routes' average jam density. This paper provides an explanation for these phenomena. It shows that, even for perfectly homogeneous networks with spatially uniform travel patterns, symmetric equilibrium patterns with equal flows and densities across all links are unstable if the average network density is sufficiently high. Instead, the stable equilibrium patterns are asymmetric. For this reason the networks jam at lower densities and exhibit lower flows than one would predict if traffic was evenly distributed. Analysis of small idealized networks that can be treated as simple dynamical systems shows that these networks undergo a bifurcation at a network-specific critical density such that for lower densities the MFDs have predictably high flows and are univalued, and for higher densities the order breaks down. Microsimulations show that this bifurcation also manifests itself in large symmetric networks. In this case though, the bifurcation is more pernicious: once the network density exceeds the critical value, the stable state is one of complete gridlock with zero flow. It is therefore important to ensure in real-world applications that a network's density never be allowed to approach this critical value. Fortunately, analysis shows that the bifurcation's critical density increases considerably if some of the drivers choose their routes adaptively in response to traffic conditions. So far, for networks with adaptive drivers, bifurcations have only been observed in simulations, but not (yet) in real life. This could be because real drivers are more adaptive than simulated drivers and/or because the observed real networks were not sufficiently congested.

Suggested Citation

  • Daganzo, Carlos F. & Gayah, Vikash V. & Gonzales, Eric J., 2011. "Macroscopic relations of urban traffic variables: Bifurcations, multivaluedness and instability," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 278-288, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:transb:v:45:y:2011:i:1:p:278-288
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carlos F. Daganzo, 1998. "Queue Spillovers in Transportation Networks with a Route Choice," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(1), pages 3-11, February.
    2. Geroliminis, Nikolas & Daganzo, Carlos F., 2008. "Existence of urban-scale macroscopic fundamental diagrams: Some experimental findings," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 759-770, November.
    3. Daganzo, Carlos F. & Geroliminis, Nikolas, 2008. "An analytical approximation for the macroscopic fundamental diagram of urban traffic," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 771-781, November.
    4. Gonzales, Eric J. & Chavis, Celeste & Li, Yuwei & Daganzo, Carlos F., 2009. "Multimodal Transport Modeling for Nairobi, Kenya: Insights and Recommendations with an Evidence-Based Model," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt6dv195p7, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    5. Gayah, Vikash V. & Daganzo, Carlos F., 2010. "Exploring the Effect of Turning Maneuvers and Route Choice ona Simple Network," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt6kg0d8ds, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    6. Daganzo, Carlos F. & Gayah, Vikash V. & Gonzales, Eric J., 2010. "Macroscopic Relations of Urban Traffic Variables: An Analysis of Instability," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt7qd590bv, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    7. Daganzo, Carlos F & Geroliminis, Nikolas, 2008. "An analytical approximation for the macropscopic fundamental diagram of urban traffic," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt4cb8h3jm, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    8. Daganzo, Carlos F., 2006. "In traffic flow, cellular automata = kinematic waves," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 396-403, June.
    9. Amin Mazloumian & Nikolas Geroliminis & Dirk Helbing, "undated". "The Spatial Variability of Vehicle Densities as Determinant of Urban Network Capacity," Working Papers CCSS-09-009, ETH Zurich, Chair of Systems Design.
    10. Daganzo, Carlos F., 2007. "Urban gridlock: Macroscopic modeling and mitigation approaches," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 49-62, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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