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Optimal Motorway Traffic Flow Control Involving Variable Speed Limits and Ramp Metering

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  • Rodrigo C. Carlson

    (Dynamic Systems and Simulation Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece, and The Capes Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília DF 70359-970, Brazil)

  • Ioannis Papamichail

    (Dynamic Systems and Simulation Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece)

  • Markos Papageorgiou

    (Dynamic Systems and Simulation Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece)

  • Albert Messmer

    (D-82402 Seeshaupt, Germany)

Abstract

The impact of variable speed limits (VSL) on aggregate traffic flow behaviour on motorways is shown to bear similarities to the impact of ramp metering, in particular, when addressing potentially active bottlenecks. A quantitative model of the VSL impact is proposed that allows for VSL to be incorporated in a macroscopic second-order traffic flow model as an additional control component. The integrated motorway network traffic control problem involving ramp metering and VSL control measures is formulated as a constrained discrete-time optimal control problem and is solved efficiently even for large-scale networks by a suitable feasible direction algorithm. An illustrative example of a hypothetical motorway stretch is investigated under different control scenarios, and it is shown that traffic flow efficiency can be substantially improved when VSL control measures are used, particularly in integration with coordinated ramp metering.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodrigo C. Carlson & Ioannis Papamichail & Markos Papageorgiou & Albert Messmer, 2010. "Optimal Motorway Traffic Flow Control Involving Variable Speed Limits and Ramp Metering," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(2), pages 238-253, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:44:y:2010:i:2:p:238-253
    DOI: 10.1287/trsc.1090.0314
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Smulders, Stef, 1990. "Control of freeway traffic flow by variable speed signs," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 111-132, April.
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    Cited by:

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    3. He, Ziliang & Wang, Ling & Su, Zicheng & Ma, Wanjing, 2024. "Integrating variable speed limit and ramp metering to enhance vehicle group safety and efficiency in a mixed traffic environment," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 641(C).
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    5. Reilly, Jack & Martin, Sébastien & Payer, Mathias & Bayen, Alexandre M., 2016. "Creating complex congestion patterns via multi-objective optimal freeway traffic control with application to cyber-security," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 366-382.
    6. Jiang, Jiwan & Zhou, Yang & Wang, Xin & Ahn, Soyoung, 2024. "On dynamic fundamental diagrams: Implications for automated vehicles," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    7. Jiaxin Wu & Yibing Wang & Zhao Zhang & Yiqing Wen & Liangxia Zhong & Pengjun Zheng, 2022. "A Cooperative Merging Control Method for Freeway Ramps in Connected and Autonomous Driving," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    8. Ding, Heng & Zhang, Lang & Chen, Jin & Zheng, Xiaoyan & Pan, Hao & Zhang, Weihua, 2023. "MPC-based dynamic speed control of CAVs in multiple sections upstream of the bottleneck area within a mixed vehicular environment," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 613(C).
    9. Chen, Jing & Lin, Lan & Jiang, Rui, 2017. "Assigning on-ramp flows to maximize capacity of highway with two on-ramps and one off-ramp in between," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 465(C), pages 347-357.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. Jiang, Yangsheng & Cong, Hongwei & Wang, Yi & Wu, Yunxia & Li, Hongwu & Yao, Zhihong, 2023. "A new control strategy of CAVs platoon for mitigating traffic oscillation in a two-lane highway," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 630(C).
    14. 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.
    15. Shen, Meng & Li, Xiang & Lu, Yujie & Cui, Qingbin & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2021. "Personality-based normative feedback intervention for energy conservation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    16. Nishi, Ryosuke & Watanabe, Takashi, 2022. "System-size dependence of a jam-absorption driving strategy to remove traffic jam caused by a sag under the presence of traffic instability," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 600(C).
    17. Zhou, Yang & Ahn, Soyoung & Wang, Meng & Hoogendoorn, Serge, 2020. "Stabilizing mixed vehicular platoons with connected automated vehicles: An H-infinity approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 152-170.
    18. Martínez, Irene & Jin, Wen-Long, 2020. "Optimal location problem for variable speed limit application areas," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 221-246.
    19. Pengsen Yang & Minghui Ma & Chaoteng Wu, 2024. "Ecologically Oriented Freeway Control Methods Integrated Speed Limits and Ramp Toll Booths Layout," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-14, May.
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    22. Chen, Danjue & Ahn, Soyoung & Hegyi, Andreas, 2014. "Variable speed limit control for steady and oscillatory queues at fixed freeway bottlenecks," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 340-358.
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