Methodology for Identifying Vulnerable Sections in a National Road Network

Abstract

Under the authority of the Flemish Traffic Centre, a study was carried out to identify road sections that are vulnerable to major incidents. The primary objective of the study was to develop a methodology capable of rapidly scanning a large network for the most vulnerable sections. The methodology builds on a number of vulnerability indicators based on an analysis of the typical stages of an incident. With these indicators, the most important bottlenecks in the network can be selected and subjected to a closer examination. The methodology developed in the project was tested on a study area comprising the network in the corridor between the two large cities of Brussels and Ghent, Belgium. For this network, an analysis of empirical data was performed to gain insight into the extent of the reliability problems on the Flemish road network.