Traffic flow on a toll highway with electronic and traditional tollgates

We study the traffic states and jams occurring in traffic flow on a two-lane toll highway with electronic and manual (traditional) tollgates. The electronic and manual collection vehicles sort themselves into their respective lanes at low density, while they mix at each tollgate at high density. We derive the fundamental diagrams (flow-density diagrams) for the electronic and manual collection vehicles. The traffic states change with increasing density and varying the ratio. Dynamical phase transitions occur. It is shown that the fundamental diagrams for the two tollgates depend greatly on the density and fraction of both vehicles.     

Traffic flow through multi-lane tollbooths on a toll highway

We study the traffic states and queuing occurring in traffic flow on a toll highway with multi-lane tollgates. The traffic states change with increasing density and varying number of tollgates. When the manual-collection vehicles sort themselves into the tollgates, the queues occur just in front of the tollgates if the vehicular density is higher than a critical value. The queuing in front of tollgates is induced by the competition between the lane expansion and slowdown effects. When the lane expansion effect is superior to the slowdown effect, no queuing occurs. We derive the fundamental diagrams (current-density diagrams) for the traffic flow on the toll highway. The current saturates at the nearest tollgate at a low density and the saturation extends to the next-nearest tollgate with increasing density.     

Traffic states induced by slowdown sections on two-lane highway

We study the traffic states and jams occurring on a two-lane highway with a few slowdown sections. We derive the fundamental diagrams (flow-density diagrams). The fundamental diagrams on first and second lanes depend highly on the configuration of slowdown sections. The occupancy fraction of vehicles on first and second lanes varies with configuration of slowdown sections and also changes with density for the definite configuration. When a jam is formed on a lane, the flow (current) saturates on the lane. The saturated flow is given by the maximal value of the current of the slowdown section. The relationship between the densities before and after the jam is derived analytically. The dependence of jam lengths on density is derived numerically and analytically.     

Traffic states and fundamental diagram in cellular automaton model of vehicular traffic controlled by signals

We present a cellular automaton (CA) model for vehicular traffic controlled by traffic lights. The CA model is not described by a set of rules, but is given by a simple difference equation. The vehicular motion varies highly with both signals’ characteristics and vehicular density. The dependence of tour time on both cycle time and vehicular density is clarified. In the dilute limit of vehicles, the vehicular motion is compared with that by the nonlinear-map model. The fundamental diagrams are derived numerically. It is shown that the fundamental diagram depends highly on the signals’ characteristics. The traffic states are shown for various values of cycle time in the fundamental diagram. We also study the effect of a slow vehicle on the traffic flow.     

Vehicular motion in counter traffic flow through a series of signals controlled by a phase shift

We study the dynamical behavior of counter traffic flow through a sequence of signals (traffic lights) controlled by a phase shift. There are two lanes for the counter traffic flow: the first lane is for east-bound vehicles and the second lane is for west-bound vehicles. The green-wave strategy is studied in the counter traffic flow where the phase shift of signals in the second lane has opposite sign to that in the first lane. A nonlinear dynamic model of the vehicular motion is presented by nonlinear maps at a low density. There is a distinct difference between the traffic flow in the first lane and that in the second lane. The counter traffic flow exhibits very complex behavior on varying the cycle time, the phase difference, and the split. Also, the fundamental diagram is derived by the use of the cellular automaton (CA) model. The dependence of east-bound and west-bound vehicles on cycle time, phase difference, and density is clarified.     

A viscous continuum traffic flow model with consideration of the coupling effect for two-lane freeways

In this paper, the viscous continuum traffic flow model for a single lane is extended to the traffic flow for two-lane freeways. The proposed model is a higher-order continuum model considering the coupling and lane changing effects of the vehicles on two adjacent lanes. It results from integrating the Taylor series expansion of the viscous continuum traffic flow model proposed by Ge (2006 Physica A 371 667) into the multi-lane model presented by Daganzo (1997 Transpn. Res. B 31 83). Our proposed model may be used to describe non-anisotropic behaviour because of lane changing in multi-lane traffic. A linear stability analysis is given and the neutral stability condition is obtained. Also, issues related to lane changing, shock waves and rarefaction waves, local clustering and phase transition are investigated through a simulation experiment. The simulation results show that the proposed model is capable of explaining some particular traffic phenomena commonly observable in real world traffic flow.     

双向两车道混合车辆交通流的特性

在NaSch模型的基础上，制订了超车规则，建立了双向两车道混合车辆的元胞自动机交通流模型. 用计算机模拟了车道密度对称和不对称两种情况下不同参数的混合车辆交通流，得出了相应的速度、流量与密度关系的基本图. 经分析发现，双向两车道混合车辆交通状态可分为快车特性区、准慢车特性区和慢车特性区；两车道上车辆密度的不对称性对交通流有重要的影响. 关键词： 元胞自动机 交通流 混合车辆交通流     

Phase diagrams properties of the mixed traffic flow on a crossroad

Based on the Ishibashi and Fukui crossroad traffic flow model [Y. Ishibashi and M. Fukui. J. Phys. Soc. Japan. 70 (2001) 2793], mixed traffic flow (i.e., the fast and slow vehicles with different maximum velocities are mixed) is investigated in this work. According to the numerical simulation results and the principle for constructing the phase diagram, phase diagrams for mixed traffic flow are constructed. It is noted that the topology of these phase diagrams is similar to that of phase diagrams for homogeneous vehicles (which refers to slow vehicles only). From the phase diagrams, it is evident that mixed traffic flow is influenced by the mixing rate f (fraction of slow and fast vehicles) in regions II and V, but not in other regions. Although a mixture of fast and slow vehicles is introduced in the crossroad traffic flow model, the separation between phases in the phase diagrams remains linear. For a given q (the vehicle density on the northbound road), one flow plateau appears in regions IIx or IVy, while two maximum flow plateaus appear in region V in each of the phase diagrams. The maximum flow values in region V reflect the maximum traffic capacity for the traffic system as defined in this work. Since mixed traffic flow is a common phenomenon in real traffic, this work may offer help in real traffic simulations and traffic management.     

Effect of gravitational force upon traffic flow with gradients

We study the effect of gravitational force upon traffic flow on a highway with sag, uphill, and downhill. We extend the optimal velocity model to take into account the gravitational force which acts on vehicles as an external force. We study the traffic states and jamming transitions induced by the slope of highway. We derive the fundamental diagrams (flow-density diagrams) for the traffic flow on the sag, the uphill, and downhill by using the extended optimal velocity model. We clarify where and when traffic jams occur on a highway with gradients. We show the relationship between densities before and after the jam. We derive the dependence of the fundamental diagram on the slope of gradients.     

Traffic jam and discontinuity induced by slowdown in two-stage optimal-velocity model

We study the traffic states and jams induced by a slowdown of vehicles in a single-lane highway. The two-stage optimal velocity model is used in which the optimal velocity function has two turning points. The fundamental (flow-density) diagrams are calculated. At low density, the flow (current) increases linearly with density, while it saturates at some values of intermediate density. When the flow saturates, the discontinuous front (stationary shock wave) appears before or within the section of slowdown. The values of saturated flow are determined by the extreme values of theoretical current curves. The relationship between the densities is derived before and after the discontinuity.     

Freezing transition in the mean-field approximation model of pedestrian counter flow

We study the freezing transition in the counter flow of pedestrians within the channel numerically and analytically. We present the mean-field approximation (MFA) model for the pedestrian counter flow. The model is described in terms of a couple of nonlinear difference equations. The excluded-volume effect and bi-directionality are taken into account. The fundamental diagrams (current-density diagrams) are derived. When pedestrian density is higher than a critical value, the dynamical phase transition occurs from the free flow to the freezing (stopping) state. The critical density is derived by using the linear stability analysis. Also, the velocity and current (flow) at the steady state are derived analytically. The analytical result is consistent with that obtained by the numerical simulation.     

Dissipation energy and satisfaction rate for a two-lane traffic model with two types of vehicles

In this paper, we investigate the energy dissipation and the satisfaction rate in a mixture of traffic flow in a two-lane cellular automaton model. We considered two kinds of vehicles vary according to their length and maximum speed. We find that slow vehicles hindered fast ones while driving continuously in the same lane, especially in the intermediate density range. Hence, the effect of the initial configuration of slow vehicles is investigated. It is found that in the inhomogeneous initial configuration where the slow start in one lane gives rise to a large number of unsatisfied fast vehicles and a larger frequency of lane changing as well as the dissipation energy increases.     

Stochastic Description of Traffic Flow

We propose a traffic model based on microscopic stochastic dynamics. We built a Markov chain equipped with an Arrhenius interaction law. The resulting stochastic process is comprised of both spin-flip and spin-exchange dynamics which models vehicles exiting, entering and interacting in a two-dimensional lattice environment corresponding to a multi-lane highway. The process is further equipped with a novel look-ahead type, anisotropic interaction potential which allows drivers/vehicles to ascertain local fluctuations and advance to new cells forward or sideways. The resulting vehicular traffic model is simulated via kinetic Monte Carlo and examined under both, typical and extreme traffic flow scenarios. The model is shown to correctly predict both qualitative as well as quantitative traffic observables for any highway geometry. Furthermore it also captures interesting multi-scale phenomena in traffic flows after a simulated accident which lead to oscillatory, dissipating, traffic waves with different periods per lane.     

A new traffic model with the consideration of coupling effect with two lanes

This paper introduces a new two-lane high-order continuum model by embedding the two delay time scales continuum traffic model presented by Xue (2003 Phys. Rev. E 68 066123) into the multi-lane model proposed by Daganzo (1997 Transpn. Res. B 31 83) with the consideration of the coupling effect between the vehicles of two lanes in instantaneous traffic situation and lane-change effect. In the novel model, the coupling effect of two lanes and phenomena of lane change, which were not discussed in Daganzo's model and Xue's model, are taken into account. Numerical simulation shows that it is in accordance with real traffic flow. This obviously indicates that the new phenomenon and behaviour are analogous results as single lane presented by Xue, and the proposed model is more reasonable on two lanes. Furthermore, the generation rate between two lanes is also investigated. The results show that the formation and diffusion of traffic shock wave can be better simulated on two lanes.     

Control of vehicular traffic through a sequence of traffic lights positioned with disordered interval

We study the dynamical behavior of vehicular traffic through a sequence of traffic lights which are positioned with inhomogeneous interval on a roadway and turn on and off periodically with the synchronized strategy. The dynamics of vehicular traffic controlled by traffic lights is described in terms of the stochastic nonlinear map. When the interval between traffic lights fluctuates highly, vehicles cannot move together with the same tour time. While vehicles can move together with the other at less inhomogeneous interval between traffic lights for specific values of cycle time. If heterogeneity of traffic-light's interval is higher, it becomes more difficult to control vehicles moving together. The phase diagram (region map) is presented for controlling the vehicular traffic.     

Three-lane changing behaviour simulation using a modified optimal velocity model

In real urban traffic, roadways are usually multilane and are divided into fast, medium and slow lanes according to different velocity restrictions. Microscopic modelling of single lane has been studied widely using discrete cellular automata and continuous optimal velocity models. In this paper, we extend the continuous single-lane models (OV model and FVD model) to simulate the lane-changing behaviour on an urban roadway that consists of three lanes. Considering headway difference, velocity difference, safety distance, and the probability of lane-changing intention, a comprehensive lane-changing rule set is constructed. We analyse the fundamental diagram and reveal the “faster-is-slower” effect in urban traffic induced by lane-changing behaviour. We also investigate the effect of lane-changing behaviour on the distribution of vehicles, velocity, flow and headway. Asymmetrical phenomenon with symmetrical rules on urban roadway and density inversion on the slow lane were also found. The simulation results indicate that lane-changing behaviour is not advisable on crowded urban roadway. It is hoped that information from this study may be useful for traffic control and individual moving strategy on urban roadway.     

Traffic states and jamming transitions induced by a bus in two-lane traffic flow

We study the traffic states and jamming transitions induced by a bus (slow car) in a two-lane traffic of cars. We use the dynamic model which is an extended one of the optimal velocity model to take into account the lane changing. The fundamental (flow-density) diagram is presented. The fundamental diagram changes highly by introducing a bus on a two-lane roadway. It is found that there are the six distinct states for the two-lane traffic flow including a bus. The spatio-temporal patterns are presented for the distinct traffic states. The dynamical state of traffic changes with density of cars. It is shown that the dynamical transitions among the distinct traffic states occur at some values of density. The phase diagram (region map) is shown for the two-lane traffic flow including a bus.     

Effect of the lane reduction in the cellular automata models applied to the two-lane traffic

More investigated situations in the field of traffic modelling are those of traffic bottlenecks caused by slow vehicles or road defects. The new aspect of this paper is the simulation of vehicular dynamics near a partial reduction in a road from two lanes to one lane. In order to reduce the bad impact of waiting vehicles behind the defect region, a strategy regulating the vehicle movement in the vicinity of the reduced lane is taken into account. The simulation model is based on the cellular automata model of Nagel–Schreckenberg with additional rules of lane change. The partial lane reduction strongly reduces the road capacity, and the added regulation strategy leads to a more interesting shape of the fundamental diagram, which depends on different constraints on the model parameters, e.g., the length of the reduced lane, the maximal speed, and the length of the connection sites near the entry of the reduced lane.     

Freezing transition in a four-directional traffic model for facing and crossing pedestrian flow

We study the traffic behavior in the facing and crossing traffic of pedestrians numerically and analytically. There are four kinds of walkers, those moving to east, to west, to north, and to south. We present the mean-field approximation (MFA) model for the four-directional traffic. The model is described in terms of four nonlinear difference equations. The excluded-volume effect and directionality are taken into account. The fundamental diagrams (current-density diagrams) are derived. When pedestrian density is higher than a critical value, the dynamical phase transition occurs from the free flow to the frozen (stopping) state. The critical density is derived by using the linear stability analysis. The velocity and current (flow) at the steady state are derived analytically. The analytical result is consistent with that obtained by the numerical simulation.     

Effect of signals on two-route traffic system with real-time information

We study the effect of signals on the vehicular traffic in the two-route system at the tour-time feedback strategy where the vehicles move ahead through a series of signals. The Nagel–Schreckenberg model is applied to the vehicular motion. The traffic signals are controlled by both cycle time and split. The tour times on two routes fluctuate periodically and alternately. The period increases with decreasing the split. Also, the tour time on each route varies with time by synchronizing with the density. The dependences of tour times and densities on both split and cycle time are clarified.