A turning restriction design problem in urban road networks

Turning restriction is one of the commonest traffic management techniques and an effective low cost traffic improvement strategy in urban road networks. However, the literature has not paid much attention to the turning restriction design problem (TRDP), which aims to determine a set of intersections where turning restrictions should be implemented. In this paper, a bi-level programming model is proposed to formulate the TRDP. The upper level problem is to minimize the total travel cost from the viewpoint of traffic managers, and the lower level problem is to depict travelers’ route choice behavior based on stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) theory. We propose a branch and bound method (BBM), based on the sensitivity analysis algorithm (SAA), to find the optimal turning restriction strategy. A branch strategy and a bound strategy are applied to accelerate the solution process of the TRDP. The computational experiments give promising results, showing that the optimal turning restriction strategy can obviously reduce system congestion and are robust to the variations of both the dispersion parameter of the SUE problem and the level of demand.     

A bi-objective turning restriction design problem in urban road networks

This paper introduces a bi-objective turning restriction design problem (BOTRDP), which aims to simultaneously improve network traffic efficiency and reduce environmental pollution by implementing turning restrictions at selected intersections. A bi-level programming model is proposed to formulate the BOTRDP. The upper level problem aims to minimize both the total system travel time (TSTT) and the cost of total vehicle emissions (CTVE) from the viewpoint of traffic managers, and the lower level problem depicts travelers’ route choice behavior based on stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) theory. The modified artificial bee colony (ABC) heuristic is developed to find Pareto optimal turning restriction strategies. Different from the traditional ABC heuristic, crossover operators are captured to enhance the performance of the heuristic. The computational experiments show that incorporating crossover operators into the ABC heuristic can indeed improve its performance and that the proposed heuristic significantly outperforms the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA) even if different operators are randomly chosen and used in the NSGA as in our proposed heuristic. The results also illustrate that a Pareto optimal turning restriction strategy can obviously reduce the TSTT and the CTVE when compared with those without implementing the strategy, and that the number of Pareto optimal turning restriction designs is smaller when the network is more congested but greater network efficiency and air quality improvement can be achieved. The results also demonstrate that traffic information provision does have an impact on the number of Pareto optimal turning restriction designs. These results should have important implications on traffic management.     

A biased random-key genetic algorithm for road congestion minimization

One of the main goals in transportation planning is to achieve solutions for two classical problems, the traffic assignment and toll pricing problems. The traffic assignment problem aims to minimize total travel delay among all travelers. Based on data derived from the first problem, the toll pricing problem determines the set of tolls and corresponding tariffs that would collectively benefit all travelers and would lead to a user equilibrium solution. Obtaining high-quality solutions for this framework is a challenge for large networks. In this paper, we propose an approach to solve the two problems jointly, making use of a biased random-key genetic algorithm for the optimization of transportation network performance by strategically allocating tolls on some of the links of the road network. Since a transportation network may have thousands of intersections and hundreds of road segments, our algorithm takes advantage of mechanisms for speeding up shortest-path algorithms.     

基于畅通可靠性的开放小区交通流分配及优化决策

开放小区内部道路可增加城市道路网的密度和可达性,从而达到缓解城市道路拥堵的目的。通过对出行者进行问卷调查,得知其路径选择行为主要考虑出行时间及时间波动性两方面因素,基于此对CONTRAM费用函数进行改进,得到适用于小区开放后的广义出行费用,该费用考虑了畅通可靠性对路径选择的影响;结合小区开放后出行者选择准则,建立考虑广义出行费用的随机用户最优模型(SUO),并采用逐次平均算法(MSA)进行求解,从而得到更为精确的路段交通流量;基于小区道路开放后需承担的交通量,结合城市道路规划相关规范,对横断面、出入口等方面提出开放小区内部道路规划的建议。     

多方式弹性需求下公交定价双层规划模型

为描述多方式城市交通网络下公交定价与出行选择行为的相互作用与影响,将出行方式选择与路径选择涵盖于同一网络,建立了上层模型分别以企业利润最大化、乘客出行成本最小化和社会福利最大化为目标函数,下层模型为多方式弹性需求随机用户配流模型的公交定价双层规划模型。运用改进遗传算法对模型整体进行求解,下层模型采用综合对角化算法和MSA算法的组合求解算法。最后,设计了一个算例以说明模型应用。结果表明:运用双层规划模型所确定的公交票价较传统静态票价可使政府、企业及出行者三方都获得更高收益,且上层模型以社会福利最大化为目标函数能代表社会群体中多数人利益,优化效果最为理想。     

交通拥堵管理中可交易电子券方案的公平性分析

利用损失厌恶理论中的参照依赖模型,构建用户的感知出行成本函数,在固定需求的交通网络中加入电子券交易费用率,建立均衡条件下的变分不等式模型。通过模拟仿真,说明市场交易费用率会影响电子券交易市场,政府可通过调节交易费用率提高电子券方案公平性。选取路网中所有起讫对间出行成本变化率波动的加权平均值,度量可交易电子券方案的公平性,综合考虑最小化系统出行总成本和最大化方案公平性两个目标,构造效用函数,分析不同权重下市场交易费用率对可交易电子券方案的影响,以期对电子券方案的公平性进行优化。     

Integrating link-based discrete credit charging scheme into discrete network design problem

In this paper, we present an optimization model for integrating link-based discrete credit charging scheme into the discrete network design problem, to improve the transport performance from the perspectives of both transport network planning and travel demand management. The proposed model is a mixed-integer nonlinear bilevel programming problem, which includes an upper level problem for the transport authority and a lower level problem for the network users. The lower level sub-model is the traffic network user equilibrium (UE) formulation for a given network design strategy determined by the upper level problem. The network user at the lower level tries to minimize his/her own generalized travel cost (including both the travel time and the value of the credit charged for using the link) by choosing his/her route. While the transport authority at the upper level tries to find the optimal number of lanes and credit charging level with their locations to minimize the total system travel time (or maximize the transportation system performance). A genetic algorithm is used to solve the proposed mixed-integer nonlinear bilevel programming problem. Numerical experiments show the efficiency of the proposed model for traffic congestion mitigation, reveal that interaction effects across the tradable credit scheme and the discrete network design problem which amplify their individual effects. Moreover, the integrated model can achieve better performance than the sequential decision problems.     

带转向延误的非对称用户平衡模型与算法

为准确刻画交通网络和出行行为的复杂特征,考虑路口的转向延误及路段之间相互作用的非对称性因素,用非线性互补理论建立了带转向延误的非对称用户平衡模型,分析了用户平衡解的存在性.结合列生成算法采用有效路径集来避免枚举路网中所有路径的优点和FBLSA算法求解非线性互补问题的全局收敛性特点,提出了修正FBLSA算法.最后针对一个中等规模的交通网络进行数值实验,结果显示该算法对处理非对称网络是十分有效的.     

A fuzzy set-based approach to origin–destination matrix estimation in urban traffic networks with imprecise data

An important issue in the management of urban traffic networks is the estimation of origin–destination (O–D) matrices whose entries represent the travel demands of network users. We discuss the challenges of O–D matrix estimation with incomplete, imprecise data. We propose a fuzzy set-based approach that utilises successive linear approximation. The fuzzy sets used have triangular membership functions that are easy to interpret and enable straightforward calibration of the parameters that weight the discrepancy between observed data and those predicted by the proposed approach. The method is potentially useful when prior O–D matrix entry estimates are unavailable or scarce, requiring trip generation information on origin departures and/or destination arrivals, leading to multiple modelling alternatives. The method may also be useful when there is no O–D matrix that can be user-optimally assigned to the network to reproduce observed link counts exactly. The method has been tested on some numerical examples from the literature and the results compare favourably with the results of earlier methods. It has also been successfully used to estimate O–D matrices for a practical urban traffic network in Brazil.     

Development of the tree-based link labeling algorithm for optimal path-finding in urban transportation networks

The optimal path-finding algorithm which is an important module in developing route guidance systems and traffic control systems has to provide correct paths to consider U-turns, P-turns, and no-left-turns in urban transportation networks.Traditional methods which have been used to consider those regulations on urban transportation networks can be categorized into network representation and algorithmic methods like the vine-building algorithm. First, network representation methods use traditional optimal path-finding algorithms with modifications to the network structure: for example, just adding dummy nodes and links to the existing network allows constraint-search in the network. This method which creates large networks is hard to implement and introduces considerable difficulties in network coding. With the increased number of nodes and links, the memory requirement tremendously increases, which causes the processing speed to slow down. For these reasons, the method has not been widely accepted for incorporating turning regulations in optimal path-finding problems in transportation networks. Second, algorithmic methods, as they are mainly based on the vine-building algorithm, have been suggested for determining optimal path for networks with turn penalties and prohibitions. However, the algorithms, although they nicely reflect the characteristics of urban transportation networks, frequently provide infeasible or suboptimal solutions.The algorithm to be suggested in this research is a method which is basically based on Dijkstra's algorithm [1] and the tree-building algorithm used to construct optimal paths. Unlike the traditional node labeling algorithms which label each node with minimum estimated cost, this algorithm labels each link with minimum estimated cost.Comparison with the vine-building algorithm shows that the solution of the link-labeling algorithm is better than that of the vine-building algorithm which very frequently provides suboptimal solutions. As a result, the algorithm allows turning regulations, while providing an optimal solution within a reasonable time limit.     

A meta-heuristic approach for solving the Urban Network Design Problem

This paper proposes an optimisation model and a meta-heuristic algorithm for solving the urban network design problem. The problem consists in optimising the layout of an urban road network by designing directions of existing roads and signal settings at intersections. A non-linear constrained optimisation model for solving this problem is formulated, adopting a bi-level approach in order to reduce the complexity of solution methods and the computation times. A Scatter Search algorithm based on a random descent method is proposed and tested on a real dimension network. Initial results show that the proposed approach allows local optimal solutions to be obtained in reasonable computation times.     

ATIS和道路收费下混合SUE相对于SSO的效率损失

在ATIS和道路收费共同作用的异质性交通网络中,基于用户在信息接受程度与时间价值上的异质性,对用户进行合理分类,所有用户均按照随机方式进行择路.构建了多用户混合随机均衡等价的变分不等式模型,以及多用户随机社会最优模型.以用户感知的总出行成本作为系统性能评价的指标,当收费作为系统总成本的一部分时,分别在时间准则与费用准则下研究了多用户混合随机均衡相对于随机社会最优的绝对效率损失问题.研究结果表明,时间准则下的绝对效率损失上界与路段出行时间函数和混合随机均衡时系统的实际总出行时间有关,费用准则下的绝对效率损失上界还与出行者的社会经济特性和随机社会最优时系统的实际总出行时间有关.     

Sensitivity Analysis Based Method for Optimal Road Network Pricing

Road pricing is an important economic measure for optimal management of transportation networks. The optimization objectives can be the total travel time or total cost incurred by all the travelers, or some other environmental objective such as minimum emission of dioxide, an so on. Suppose a certain toll is posed on some link on the network, this will give an impact on flows over the whole network and brings about a new equilibrium state. An equilibrium state is a state of traffic network at which no traveler could decrease the perceived travel cost by unilaterally changing the route. The aim of the toll setting is to achieve such an equilibrium state that a certain objective function is optimized. The problem can be formulated as a mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (MPEC). A key step for solving such a MPEC problem is the sensitivity analysis of traffic flows with respect to the change of link characteristics such as the toll prices. In this paper a sensitivity analysis based method is proposed for solving optimal road pricing problems.     

Optimizing departure times in vehicle routes

Most solution methods for the vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) develop routes from the earliest feasible departure time. In practice, however, temporary traffic congestion make such solutions non-optimal with respect to minimizing the total duty time. Furthermore, the VRPTW does not account for driving hours regulations, which restrict the available travel time for truck drivers. To deal with these problems, we consider the vehicle departure time optimization (VDO) problem as a post-processing of a VRPTW. We propose an ILP formulation that minimizes the total duty time. The results of a case study indicate that duty time reductions of 15% can be achieved. Furthermore, computational experiments on VRPTW benchmarks indicate that ignoring traffic congestion or driving hours regulations leads to practically infeasible solutions. Therefore, new vehicle routing methods should be developed that account for these common restrictions. We propose an integrated approach based on classical insertion heuristics.     

Using fuzzy integral for evaluating subjectively perceived travel costs in a traffic assignment model

A good traffic assignment model can be a powerful tool to describe the characteristics of traffic behavior in a road network. The traffic assignment results often play an important role in transportation planning, e.g., an optimal and economical network design. Many traditional traffic assignment models rely heavily on the travel cost function established by Wardrop’s principles; however, the Wardrop’s travel cost function has been proven to be weak for explaining the uncertainty and interactivity of traffic among links. This study tries to construct a traffic assignment model that is different from Wardrop’s in many aspects. First, it considers the cross-effect among the links. Second, a fuzzy travel cost function is established based on the possibility concept instead of precise calculation of traffic volumes. Third, the techniques of fuzzy measure and fuzzy integral are applied to calculate the subjectively perceived travel costs during traffic assignment. Furthermore, in order to validate our model, a detailed network with 22 nodes and 36 links is used to illustrate it. Study results show that our model explains more interactivity and uncertainty of traffic among links when compared with the traditional model of Wardrop’s.     

基于网络等级特征与VMS的交叉巢式Logit模型

基于等级特征与可变信息板(VMS)研究了交叉巢式Logit(CNL)模型及网络交通流分配。综合幂函数与指数函数表示方法给出新的信息效用衰减因子,结合道路等级特征表示VMS对车流的影响系数及CNL模型的分配系数;给出等级结构道路网络的随机用户均衡条件下的交叉巢式Logit路径选择模型及其等价数学规划,并设计网络流分配算法。通过实例网络的计算与分析,得到一些有意义的结论:等级结构越显著的路网总出行时间费用越低且其分散参数(θ)弹性绝对值越大;对具有较强随机性的实际路网,若增加一定的确定性则节省更多网络总出行时间;道路网络中设置了VMS时总出行时间受分散参数的影响更小。     

出行量预测不确定下基于灵敏度分析的拥挤收费定价模型

拥挤收费是改善城市交通的有效手段.对拥挤收费定价的研究方法之一,就是针对固定的出行量进行收费设计.由于出行量预测不确定的因素,应针对长期出行量预测不确定的情况,利用灵敏度分析的方法,对拥挤收费定价的问题进行研究.首先研究了出行者出行的广义费用,然后考虑出行者的出行决策及出行量预测不确定的因素,给出一个拥挤收费定价模型,为交通管理者提供理论依据.     

双瓶颈路段家庭出行者早高峰出行问题研究

针对一次连续出行中两个路段各存在一个瓶颈的双瓶颈路段,研究了家庭出行者早高峰期间先后经过双瓶颈到达学校和工作地的出行行为。首先建立了无收费下的用户均衡模型,接着考虑了拥挤收费模型,并就学校工作地开始时间差值大小的不同展开讨论,分析得出对应系统总出行成本最优时的收费值和收费时窗。研究发现收费管理能够有效降低系统总成本,并且学校和工作地开始时间差较小时的系统总成本更低,最后,通过数值算例验证了高峰时长保持不变,且得出了使得系统出行成本最优时的收费方案。     

Sensitivity analysis for the asymmetric network equilibrium problem

We consider the asymmetric continuous traffic equilibrium network model with fixed demands where the travel cost on each link of the transportation network may depend on the flow on this as well as other links of the network and we perform stability and sensitivity analysis. Assuming that the travel cost functions are monotone we first show that the traffic equlibrium pattern depends continuously upon the assigned travel demands and travel cost functions. We then focus on the delicate question of predicting the direction of the change in the traffic pattern and the incurred travel costs resulting from changes in the travel cost functions and travel demands and attempt to elucidate certain counter intuitive phenomena such as ‘Braess' paradox’. Our analysis depends crucially on the fact that the governing equilibrium conditions can be formulated as a variational inequality. This work was supported by the Program of University Research, U.S. Department of Transportation (Project number DTRS 5680-C-00007).     

Novel travel cost functions based on morning peak commuting equilibrium

This paper derives two novel travel cost functions by formulating a morning commuting equilibrium model that incorporates traffic congestion based on fundamental traffic flow diagram. The travel cost functions have components to represent traversal cost, waiting queuing costs and early arrival penalty. It is found that the equilibrium travel cost is a concave function of the total demand in the uncongested regime but an increasing linear function of the total demand in the congested regime.