Abstract
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) has constructed four roundabouts in the State of Connecticut within the past ten years. VISSIM traffic simulation software was utilized to analyze these roundabouts during their design phase. The objectives of this project are to: identify VISSIM input variables most critical to accurate modeling; and, provide other recommendations for roundabout traffic operations modeling. Cameras were set up at these roundabouts to capture vehicle circulating activity and entry behavior for two weekdays. The data extracted from the videos include: vehicle circulating speed; critical gap estimated by Maximum Likelihood Method; peak hour volume; follow-up headway; travel time; and, vehicle queue length. A VISSIM simulation of existing roundabouts was built to compare both queue length and travel time predicted from simulation with measured in the field. The research investigated a variety of simulation parameters as calibration factors for describing driver behaviors at roundabouts. Among them, critical gap is the most effective calibration variable in roundabout simulation. The results will improve the design of future roundabouts in Connecticut and provide decision makers with insights on the relationship between various choices and future performance.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) [grant number: SPR-2284]. This project was prepared by the University of A, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, University of B, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and the United States Department of Transportation. The authors would like to express their special thanks to Will Britnell, Barry Schilling and the Traffic Monitoring Section in the Connecticut Department of Transportation for their assistance and support during this project. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in the publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Connecticut Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration. This publication is based upon publicly supported research and is copyrighted. It may be reproduced in part or in full, but it is requested that there be customary crediting of the source.
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Clara Fang, F., Castaneda, H. Computer Simulation Modeling of Driver Behavior at Roundabouts. Int. J. ITS Res. 16, 66–77 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13177-017-0138-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13177-017-0138-2