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Traffic Networks, Optimization and Control of Urban

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Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science

Definition of the Subject

Much of our economic and social life is dependent on communication and transportation systems. Travel in urban networks represents an interactionbetween the demand for transportation and the supply of transportation means and facilities which includes the vehicles, the road networks, as well as thecontrol systems that govern them. The critical elements within these systems are junctions, or intersections, which are controlled by means of trafficsignals. Public authorities, which are responsible for the operation of those systems, develop control policies that have a dominant impact on thequality of travel and the level of service provided by the networks. An understanding of the basic models involved in urban traffic control is essentialfor the development of optimal operating policies that would lead to the effective performance of urban traffic networks.

Introduction

The critical elements within an urban traffic network are the junctions, or the...

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Abbreviations

Assignment:

(traffic) The allocation of traffic volumes to routes.

Arterial:

A road with two or more intersections.

Bandwidth:

Time interval in an arterial progressive system during which vehicles can travel unimpeded.

Controller:

A device which controls the sequence and duration of indications displayed by traffic signals.

Coordination:

The establishment of a definite timing relationship between adjacent traffic signals.

Cycle time:

The time required for one complete sequence of signal indications.

Delay:

(traffic) The time lost by vehicle(s) due to traffic interference or control devices.

Detector:

(traffic) A device to detect the presence or passage of a vehicle in the roadway.

Flow:

(traffic) The rate at which vehicles cross a given line on the road; the number of vehicles per unit of time.

Headway:

The time interval between successive vehicle crossings of a given line on the road.

Intelligent transportation system:

The addition of information and communications technology to enhance performance of transport infrastructure and of vehicles.

Offset:

The time difference between the start of green at one intersection and the start of green at a subsequent intersection, or with respect to a system time base.

Phase:

The time interval of a cycle time allocated to any combination of movements receiving the right‐of‐way simultaneously.

Performance index/disutility index:

A numerical quantity used to measure the performance of a traffic in a network in an optimization or a simulation model; also objective function.

Platoon:

A tight group of vehicles traveling along an arterial.

Progression:

A timing plan enabling a platoon to travel unimpeded along an arterial.

Saturation flow:

The rate of flow at which vehicles are discharged from a queue stopped at a signal; the maximum rate of flow on a street.

Synchronization:

A condition under which traffic signals operate with the same cycle time.

Volume:

(traffic) The number of vehicles crossing a line on the road per hour; traffic flow.

Bibliography

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Massachusetts, Lowell, USA

    Nathan H. Gartner & Chronis Stamatiadis

Authors
  1. Nathan H. Gartner
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  2. Chronis Stamatiadis
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. RAMTECH LIMITED, 122 Escalle Lane, Larkspur, CA, 94939, USA

    Robert A. Meyers Ph. D. (Editor-in-Chief) (Editor-in-Chief)

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag

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Gartner, N.H., Stamatiadis, C. (2009). Traffic Networks, Optimization and Control of Urban. In: Meyers, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30440-3_563

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