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

Author

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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.
    2. 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.
    3. Zhang, H. M. & Recker, W. W., 1999. "On optimal freeway ramp control policies for congested traffic corridors," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 417-436, August.
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    Cited by:

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    3. 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).
    4. 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.
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    8. Gao, Hang & Chen, Shenyang & Zhang, Michael, 2020. "Get More Out of Variable Speed Limit (VSL) Control: An Integrated Approach to Manage Traffic Corridors with Multiple Bottlenecks," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt6th037wz, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    9. Yuan, Tianchen & Alasiri, Faisal & Ioannou, Petros A., 2022. "Robust Design, Analysis and Evaluation of Variable Speed Limit Control in a Connected Environment with Uncertainties: Performance Evaluation and Environmental Benefits," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt2q60p994, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    10. 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.
    11. 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).
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Yuan, Tianchen & Ioannou, Petros A., 2023. "Coordinated Traffic Flow Control in a Connected Environment," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt6q67f9z4, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    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.
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