Recently, a new concept called macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD) was proposed, relating trip completion rate and the number of vehicles in a network. Some characteristics in a conservative link fundamental diagram can be observed in a MFD as well. The modeling emphasis is then shifted from microscopic prediction to macroscopic monitoring. The road operators can control the traffic situation more effectively and efficiently by applying MFD. The previous studies have investigated several factors in determining the shape of MFD. In addition, they have concluded that a large network has to be divided so that a more accurate MFD can be derived in each homogeneous sub-network. However, there is no complete rule for obtaining MFD, especially for network partition. Besides, how the shape of MFD change under different dynamic traffic measures is unknown. Hence, one of main objectives of this project is to propose a guideline for deriving MFD, including large network division. Furthermore, the effects of dynamic traffic management (DTM) on MFD will be analyzed by using a simulation model. The road network in metropolitan Amsterdam will be chosen for a case study, as the first attempt on MFD application in the Netherlands.
Start date: January 5, 2009
End date: August 24, 2009
Research topic:
Traffic management
Research question:
Network wide traffic management
Report:
Application of MFDs to dynamic traffic management