IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/ortrsc/v51y2017i3p852-862.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Microscopic Investigation Into the Capacity Drop: Impacts of Longitudinal Behavior on the Queue Discharge Rate

Author

Listed:
  • Kai Yuan

    (Delft University of Technology, 2628 CN Delft, Netherlands)

  • Victor L. Knoop

    (Delft University of Technology, 2628 CN Delft, Netherlands)

  • Serge P. Hoogendoorn

    (Delft University of Technology, 2628 CN Delft, Netherlands)

Abstract

The capacity drop indicates that the queue discharge rate is lower than the free-flow capacity. Studies show that the queue discharge rate varies under different traffic conditions. Empirical data show that the queue discharge rate increases as the speed in congestion increases. Insights into the underlying behavioral mechanisms that cause these variable queue discharge rates can help minimize traffic delays and eliminate congestion. However, to our knowledge, few efforts have been devoted to testing impacts of traffic behaviors on the queue discharge rate. This paper tries to fill this gap. We investigate to what extent the acceleration spread and reaction time can influence the queue discharge rate. It is found that the (interdriver) acceleration spread does not reduce the queue discharge rates as much as found empirically. Modeling reaction time might be more important than modeling acceleration for capacity drop in car-following models. A speed-dependent reaction time mechanism for giving variable queue discharge rates is proposed. That is, decreasing reaction time as the speed in congestion increases can give the same queue discharge rate as found empirically. This research suggests that motivating drivers to speed up earlier could increase the queue discharge rate and thereby minimize delays.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Yuan & Victor L. Knoop & Serge P. Hoogendoorn, 2017. "A Microscopic Investigation Into the Capacity Drop: Impacts of Longitudinal Behavior on the Queue Discharge Rate," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 51(3), pages 852-862, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:51:y:2017:i:3:p:852-862
    DOI: 10.287/trsc.2017.0745
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.287/trsc.2017.0745
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.287/trsc.2017.0745?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, H.M. & Kim, T., 2005. "A car-following theory for multiphase vehicular traffic flow," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 385-399, June.
    2. Laval, Jorge A. & Daganzo, Carlos F., 2006. "Lane-changing in traffic streams," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 251-264, March.
    3. Cassidy, Michael J. & Bertini, Robert L., 1999. "Some traffic features at freeway bottlenecks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 25-42, February.
    4. Leclercq, Ludovic & Laval, Jorge A. & Chiabaut, Nicolas, 2011. "Capacity drops at merges: An endogenous model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 1302-1313.
    5. Paul I. Richards, 1956. "Shock Waves on the Highway," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 4(1), pages 42-51, February.
    6. Wong, G. C. K. & Wong, S. C., 2002. "A multi-class traffic flow model - an extension of LWR model with heterogeneous drivers," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 827-841, November.
    7. Oh, Simon & Yeo, Hwasoo, 2015. "Impact of stop-and-go waves and lane changes on discharge rate in recovery flow," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 88-102.
    8. Coifman, Benjamin & Kim, Seoungbum, 2011. "Extended bottlenecks, the fundamental relationship, and capacity drop on freeways," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 980-991, November.
    9. Chen, Danjue & Laval, Jorge A. & Ahn, Soyoung & Zheng, Zuduo, 2012. "Microscopic traffic hysteresis in traffic oscillations: A behavioral perspective," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 46(10), pages 1440-1453.
    10. Daganzo, Carlos F., 2005. "A variational formulation of kinematic waves: basic theory and complex boundary conditions," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 187-196, February.
    11. Koutsopoulos, Haris N. & Farah, Haneen, 2012. "Latent class model for car following behavior," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 46(5), pages 563-578.
    12. Yeo, Hwasoo, 2008. "Asymmetric Microscopic Driving Behavior Theory," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt1tn1m968, University of California Transportation Center.
    13. Cassidy, Michael J. & Rudjanakanoknad, Jittichai, 2005. "Increasing the capacity of an isolated merge by metering its on-ramp," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 896-913, December.
    14. Newell, G. F., 2002. "A simplified car-following theory: a lower order model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 195-205, March.
    15. Chen, Danjue & Ahn, Soyoung & Laval, Jorge & Zheng, Zuduo, 2014. "On the periodicity of traffic oscillations and capacity drop: The role of driver characteristics," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 117-136.
    16. Chung, Koohong & Rudjanakanoknad, Jittichai & Cassidy, Michael J., 2007. "Relation between traffic density and capacity drop at three freeway bottlenecks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 82-95, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Xiao & Jiang, Rui & Li, Li & Lin, Yi-Lun & Wang, Fei-Yue, 2019. "Long memory is important: A test study on deep-learning based car-following model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 514(C), pages 786-795.
    2. Tian, Junfang & Zhang, H.M. & Treiber, Martin & Jiang, Rui & Gao, Zi-You & Jia, Bin, 2019. "On the role of speed adaptation and spacing indifference in traffic instability: Evidence from car-following experiments and its stochastic model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 334-350.
    3. Bao, Yue & Verhoef, Erik T. & Koster, Paul, 2021. "Leaving the tub: The nature and dynamics of hypercongestion in a bathtub model with a restricted downstream exit," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    4. Tang, Qing & Hu, Xianbiao & Lu, Jiawei & Zhou, Xuesong, 2021. "Analytical characterization of multi-state effective discharge rates for bus-only lane conversion scheduling problem," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 106-131.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Danjue & Ahn, Soyoung, 2018. "Capacity-drop at extended bottlenecks: Merge, diverge, and weave," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 1-20.
    2. Yibing Wang & Long Wang & Xianghua Yu & Jingqiu Guo, 2023. "Capacity Drop at Freeway Ramp Merges with Its Replication in Macroscopic and Microscopic Traffic Simulations: A Tutorial Report," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-27, January.
    3. Chen, Danjue & Ahn, Soyoung & Laval, Jorge & Zheng, Zuduo, 2014. "On the periodicity of traffic oscillations and capacity drop: The role of driver characteristics," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 117-136.
    4. Jin, Wen-Long & Gan, Qi-Jian & Lebacque, Jean-Patrick, 2015. "A kinematic wave theory of capacity drop," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 316-329.
    5. Jin, Wen-Long, 2013. "A multi-commodity Lighthill–Whitham–Richards model of lane-changing traffic flow," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 361-377.
    6. Kontorinaki, Maria & Spiliopoulou, Anastasia & Roncoli, Claudio & Papageorgiou, Markos, 2017. "First-order traffic flow models incorporating capacity drop: Overview and real-data validation," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 52-75.
    7. Oh, Simon & Yeo, Hwasoo, 2015. "Impact of stop-and-go waves and lane changes on discharge rate in recovery flow," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 88-102.
    8. Yeo, Hwasoo, 2008. "Asymmetric Microscopic Driving Behavior Theory," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt1tn1m968, University of California Transportation Center.
    9. Han, Youngjun & Chen, Danjue & Ahn, Soyoung, 2017. "Variable speed limit control at fixed freeway bottlenecks using connected vehicles," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 113-134.
    10. Han, Youngjun & Ahn, Soyoung, 2018. "Stochastic modeling of breakdown at freeway merge bottleneck and traffic control method using connected automated vehicle," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 146-166.
    11. Laval, Jorge A. & Toth, Christopher S. & Zhou, Yi, 2014. "A parsimonious model for the formation of oscillations in car-following models," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 228-238.
    12. Xing-jian Xue & Feng Shi & Qun Chen, 2014. "Capacity Estimation for On-Ramp Merging Section of Urban Expressway Based on Time Headway Loss," Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, Hindawi, vol. 2014, pages 1-9, February.
    13. Jin, Wen-Long, 2017. "A first-order behavioral model of capacity drop," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 438-457.
    14. Li, Xiaopeng & Ouyang, Yanfeng, 2011. "Characterization of traffic oscillation propagation under nonlinear car-following laws," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 1346-1361.
    15. Leclercq, Ludovic & Laval, Jorge A. & Chiabaut, Nicolas, 2011. "Capacity drops at merges: An endogenous model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 1302-1313.
    16. Liu, Wei & Yin, Yafeng & Yang, Hai, 2015. "Effectiveness of variable speed limits considering commuters’ long-term response," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 498-519.
    17. Zheng, Zuduo, 2014. "Recent developments and research needs in modeling lane changing," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 16-32.
    18. Xu, Tu & Laval, Jorge, 2020. "Statistical inference for two-regime stochastic car-following models," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 210-228.
    19. Kim, Kwangho & Cassidy, Michael J., 2012. "A capacity-increasing mechanism in freeway traffic," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 46(9), pages 1260-1272.
    20. Nima Dadashzadeh & Murat Ergun, 2019. "An Integrated Variable Speed Limit and ALINEA Ramp Metering Model in the Presence of High Bus Volume," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-26, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:51:y:2017:i:3:p:852-862. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.