Improvement and Evaluation of Cell-Transmission Model for Operational Analysis of Traffic Networks

Abstract

The cell-transmission model (CTM), developed by Daganzo in 1994, has not been fully exploited as an operations model for analysis of large-scale traffic networks. Because of its macroscopic and mesoscopic features, CTM offers calibration and computational advantages over microscopic models. This paper demonstrates specific improvements to the original form of CTM to increase its accuracy and realism of traffic flow representation. These improvements include modifications to provide flexibility in selection of cell lengths, noninteger movements of vehicles between cells, and algorithmic enhancements in the merging and diverging logics. The effect of such improvements on the performance of CTM was evaluated independently and comparatively. A sample freeway network of the I-10 corridor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was used to evaluate and compare the performance of the improved version of CTM versus CORSIM under heavily congested traffic conditions. The results showed comparable performance of both platforms in terms of link occupancy (density) and total network travel time.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Daganzo

C. F.

The Cell Transmission Model: A Simple Dynamic Representation of Highway Traffic Consistent with the Hydrodynamic Theory.

Transportation Research B, Vol. 28, 1994, pp. 269–287.

Daganzo

C. F.

The Cell Transmission Model. II. Network Traffic.

Transportation Research B, Vol. 29, 1995, pp. 79–93.

Lighthill

M. J.

, and Whitham

J. B.

. On Kinematic Waves. I. Flow Modeling in Long Rivers. II. A Theory of Traffic Flow on Long Crowded Roads. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series A, Vol. 229, 1955, pp. 281–345.

Richards

P. I.

Shockwaves on the Highway.

Operations Research, Vol. 4, 1956, pp. 42–51.

Lin

W. H.

, and Daganzo

C. F.

. Technical Description of NETCELL: General Framework and Data Structure. PATH Technical Note 94–7. Institute of Transportation Studies and Department of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1994.

Lin

W. H.

, and Ahanotu

. Validating the Basic Cell Transmission Model on a Single Freeway Link. PATH Technical Report 95–3. Institute of Transportation Studies and Department of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1994.

Ziliaskopoulos

A. K.

A Linear Programming Model for the Single Destination System Optimum Dynamic Traffic Assignment Problem.

Transportation Science, Vol. 34, No. 1, 2000, pp. 37–49.

, Ziliaskopoulos

A. K.

, and Waller

S. T.

. Linear Programming Formulations for System Optimum Dynamic Traffic Assignment with Arrival Time-Based and Departure Time-Based Demands. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1667, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1999, pp. 52–59.

Golani

, and Waller

S. T.

. Combinatorial Approach for Multiple-Destination User Optimal Dynamic Traffic Assignment. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1882, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2004, pp. 70–78.

10.

Waller

S. T.

, and Ziliaskopoulos

A. K.

. Stochastic Dynamic Network Design Problem. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1771, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 2001, pp. 106–113.

11.

Ukkusuri

S. V. S. K.

, and Waller

S. T.

. Linear Programming Models for User and System Optimal Dynamic Network Design Problem: Formulations, Implementations, and Comparisons. Presented at 83rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2004.

12.

H. K.

A Novel Traffic Signal Control Formulation.

Transportation Research A, Vol. 33, 1999, pp. 433–448.

13.

H. K.

A Cell-Based Traffic Control Formulation: Strategies and Benefits of Dynamic Timing Plans.

Transportation Science, Vol. 35, No. 2, 2001, pp. 148–164.

14.

H. K.

, and Chow

A. H. F.

. Control Strategies for Oversaturated Traffic. Journal of Transportation Engineering, Vol. 130, No. 4, 2004, pp. 466–478.

15.

H. K.

, Chang

, and Chan

Y. C.

. Dynamic Network Traffic Control. Transportation Research A, Vol. 35, 2001, pp. 721–744.

16.

Mark

C. D.

, and Sadek

A. W.

. Learning Systems for Predicting Experience Travel Times in the Presence of Incidents: Insights and Lessons Learned. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1879, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, D.C., 2004, pp. 51–58.

17.

Ziliaskopoulos

, and Lee

. Cell Transmission Based Assignment Simulation Model for Integrated Freeway/Surface Street Systems. Presented at 76th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1997.