Modeling of Traffic Flows Sustainability on Highway Network Stretches

Abstract

Assessing the transport flow robustness is a significant aspect of a qualitative solution to traffic management problems. Therefore, management should be based on appropriate criteria, accounting for different factors characterizing traffic flow sustainability. That’s why it is crucial to establish the impact rate for each group of factors on the robustness criterion. Therefore, the current study aims to obtain the dependence of the criterion changes for traffic flow sustainability on the traffic jam occurrence when changing the gradients’ product of traffic flow density and its speed. The value of the robustness criterion allows for performing an impact rating for input factors on traffic flow sustainability. All factors affecting transport flow robustness are divided into three groups. Based on simulation results, factors rating that impact the robustness margin value of the traffic flow is presented. Length and weight of automobiles are at first place according to impact terms on the sustainability loss of the traffic flow. In second place of impact on sustainability loss are the temporary factors group and factors group that considers the roadway environment’s infrastructure. Hence, the results can be used to analyze sustainability traffic flows in controlled highway network stretches and develop measures to increase sustainability reserve.