A first‐order link‐based flow model with variable speed limits and capacity drops for freeway networks.
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| Title: | A first‐order link‐based flow model with variable speed limits and capacity drops for freeway networks. |
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| Authors: | Wei, Lei1 (AUTHOR), Han, Yu2 (AUTHOR), Wang, Meng1 (AUTHOR) meng.wang@tu-dresden.de |
| Source: | Computer-Aided Civil & Infrastructure Engineering. 8/29/2025, Vol. 40 Issue 21, p3200-3217. 18p. |
| Subjects: | Traffic flow, Speed limits, Traffic engineering, Simulation methods & models, Transportation corridors, Traffic congestion |
| Abstract: | First‐order link‐based traffic flow models are computationally efficient in simulating freeway networks. However, the standard link transmission models fall short of reproducing traffic phenomena such as capacity drop (CD). Moreover, traffic control measures such as variable speed limits (VSLs) control may change the fundamental diagram and should be captured by traffic flow models. This study proposes a first‐order link‐based flow model incorporating VSL and CD for freeway simulation. In the proposed model, the vehicle flow through each link is characterized by cumulative inflow and outflow, which are influenced by the time‐varying free flow speed caused by the VSL at the link's upstream boundary. CD is modeled by incorporating the traffic state‐dependent capacity at the freeway lane‐drop positions. A node model is then developed to determine and regulate the flow propagation between adjacent links. Simulation experiments were conducted on freeways to evaluate the model's effectiveness. The results demonstrate its ability to accurately predict traffic operations under VSL and CD while maintaining a computationally tractable representation of flow propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Computer-Aided Civil & Infrastructure Engineering is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Abstract: | First‐order link‐based traffic flow models are computationally efficient in simulating freeway networks. However, the standard link transmission models fall short of reproducing traffic phenomena such as capacity drop (CD). Moreover, traffic control measures such as variable speed limits (VSLs) control may change the fundamental diagram and should be captured by traffic flow models. This study proposes a first‐order link‐based flow model incorporating VSL and CD for freeway simulation. In the proposed model, the vehicle flow through each link is characterized by cumulative inflow and outflow, which are influenced by the time‐varying free flow speed caused by the VSL at the link's upstream boundary. CD is modeled by incorporating the traffic state‐dependent capacity at the freeway lane‐drop positions. A node model is then developed to determine and regulate the flow propagation between adjacent links. Simulation experiments were conducted on freeways to evaluate the model's effectiveness. The results demonstrate its ability to accurately predict traffic operations under VSL and CD while maintaining a computationally tractable representation of flow propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10939687 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/mice.13492 |
