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Use of microscopic traffic simulation and field data to investigate saturated and free flow traffic conditions at arterial signals

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dc.contributorLindly, Jay K.
dc.contributorJones, Steven L.
dc.contributorDurrans, S. Rocky
dc.contributorFonseca, Daniel J.
dc.contributorWeber, Joe
dc.contributor.advisorTurner, Daniel S.
dc.contributor.authorGurupackiam, Saravanan
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2017-02-28T22:22:28Z
dc.date.available2017-02-28T22:22:28Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractOver the years microscopic traffic simulation has evolved as the premier tool to analyze complex and congested transportation networks. However, despite the robustness and wide spread use of traffic microsimulation, some gaps and limitations still exist that can affect the accuracy of these models' results. Moreover the change of traffic characteristics and driver behavior during the transition from undersaturated to saturated condition is not completely understood. This dissertation addresses these two issues. The road network chosen for the microscopic simulation and field data collection is a six lane main traffic artery located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. The entire research work contains three related research efforts, each conducted along the topic of this dissertation. The first research thrust focused on the sensitivity and accuracy of the microscopic traffic simulation. Specifically it investigated the sensitivity of MOEs to simulation initialization time, required number of repetitions, and major contributors of variation in MOEs. The second research thrust dealt with field investigation of operational parameters including gap acceptance and lane changing during different levels of traffic flow. The final research effort explored the variations in simulation results using existing embedded/default values of lane change parameters (lane change duration and look ahead distance), versus using values obtained from field observation for both free flow and saturated traffic conditions. From all the research efforts, the following broad conclusions were drawn, * Traffic flows at signals that are approaching saturation are still complex to analyze, and the interactions between traffic parameter are not well understood. * When traffic flow on a typical arterial approaches saturation, drivers take higher risks (eg: drivers accept smaller gaps). * A statistical analysis of gap acceptance and lane changing confirmed what is suspected intuitively. * Existing traffic microsimulation tools simplify some of the traffic parameters in simulation models. These parameters may be recoded or recalibrated for better accuracy of simulation results. * In traffic microsimulation an increased number of simulation runs certainly helps in stabilizing the variability of the MOE and it is advisable to use a longer simulation time (eg. 60 minutes) to reduce the variation of MOEs.en_US
dc.format.extent121 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0000162
dc.identifier.otherGurupackiam_alatus_0004D_10160
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/668
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectCivil engineering
dc.subjectTransportation
dc.titleUse of microscopic traffic simulation and field data to investigate saturated and free flow traffic conditions at arterial signalsen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
etdms.degree.disciplineCivil, Construction & Environmental Engineering
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.leveldoctoral
etdms.degree.namePh.D.

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