TY - JOUR
T1 - Network traffic flow optimization under performance constraints
AU - Csikós, Alfréd
AU - Charalambous, Themistoklis
AU - Farhadi, Hamed
AU - Kulcsár, Balázs
AU - Wymeersch, Henk
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - In this paper, a model-based perimeter control policy for large-scale urban vehicular networks is proposed. Assuming a homogeneously loaded vehicle network and the existence of a well-posed Network Fundamental Diagram (NFD), we describe a protected network throughout its aggregated dynamics including nonlinear exit flow characteristics. Within this framework of constrained optimal boundary flow gating, two main performance metrics are considered: (a) first, connected to the NFD, the concept of average network travel time and delay as a performance metric is defined; (b) second, at boundaries, we take into account additional external network queue dynamics governed by uncontrolled inflow demands. External queue capacities in terms of finite-link lengths are used as the second performance metric. Hence, the corresponding performance requirement is an upper bound of external queues. While external queues represent vehicles waiting to enter the protected network, internal queue describes the protected network's aggregated behavior. By controlling the number of vehicles joining the internal queue from the external ones, herewith a network traffic flow maximization solution subject to the internal and external dynamics and their performance constraints is developed. The originally non-convex optimization problem is transformed to a numerically efficiently convex one by relaxing the performance constraints into time-dependent state boundaries. The control solution can be interpreted as a mechanism which transforms the unknown arrival process governing the number of vehicles entering the network to a regulated process, such that prescribed performance requirements on travel time in the network and upper bound on the external queue are satisfied. Comparative numerical simulation studies on a microscopic traffic simulator are carried out to show the benefits of the proposed method.
AB - In this paper, a model-based perimeter control policy for large-scale urban vehicular networks is proposed. Assuming a homogeneously loaded vehicle network and the existence of a well-posed Network Fundamental Diagram (NFD), we describe a protected network throughout its aggregated dynamics including nonlinear exit flow characteristics. Within this framework of constrained optimal boundary flow gating, two main performance metrics are considered: (a) first, connected to the NFD, the concept of average network travel time and delay as a performance metric is defined; (b) second, at boundaries, we take into account additional external network queue dynamics governed by uncontrolled inflow demands. External queue capacities in terms of finite-link lengths are used as the second performance metric. Hence, the corresponding performance requirement is an upper bound of external queues. While external queues represent vehicles waiting to enter the protected network, internal queue describes the protected network's aggregated behavior. By controlling the number of vehicles joining the internal queue from the external ones, herewith a network traffic flow maximization solution subject to the internal and external dynamics and their performance constraints is developed. The originally non-convex optimization problem is transformed to a numerically efficiently convex one by relaxing the performance constraints into time-dependent state boundaries. The control solution can be interpreted as a mechanism which transforms the unknown arrival process governing the number of vehicles entering the network to a regulated process, such that prescribed performance requirements on travel time in the network and upper bound on the external queue are satisfied. Comparative numerical simulation studies on a microscopic traffic simulator are carried out to show the benefits of the proposed method.
KW - Network fundamental diagram
KW - Perimeter control
KW - Traffic control
KW - Traffic flow
KW - Travel time
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85027436895&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.trc.2017.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.trc.2017.08.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85027436895
SN - 0968-090X
VL - 83
SP - 120
EP - 133
JO - Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
JF - Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
ER -