A novel distributed method for estimating a trip table in real time is described. The system is called “persistent traffic cookies” by analogy with the use of cookies by web servers to keep track of the current state of web browsers navigating a web site. The method uses traffic cookies placed on in-vehicle computers to maintain the state (current trip) of vehicles moving through the system. These cookies are persistent from day to day; taken together, they form a complete travel history for a traveler or vehicle. The method leverages the vehicles to store their own travel data and then physically do carry those data around the network. Advantages include scalability in both storage and computational effort as well as the unique ability to incorporate the travel behavior of individuals into real-time traffic predictions. A small-scale simulation is presented to illustrate the concept and its potential applications.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
RindtC. R.MarcaJ. E. and McNallyM. G.. Agent-Based Activity Microsimulation Kernel Using a Negotiation Metaphor. Presented at 81st Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2003.
2.
MarcaJ. E.RindtC. R. and McNallyM. G.. Simulation Framework and Environment for Activity-Based Transportation Modeling. Presented at 79th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2000.
3.
OhS.RitchieS. G. and OhC.. Real-Time Traffic Measurement from Single Loop Inductive Signatures. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1804, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2002, pp. 98–106.
4.
OhC. and RitchieS. G.. Anonymous Vehicle Tracking for Real-Time Traffic Surveillance and Performance on Signalized Arterials. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1826, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2003, pp 37–44.
5.
CoifmanB.Estimating Travel Times and Vehicle Trajectories on Freeways Using Dual Loop Detectors. Transportation Research A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 36, No. 42002, pp. 351–364.
6.
OhC.RitchieS. G.OhJ.-S. and JayakrishnanR.. Real-Time Origin-Destination (OD) Estimation Via Anonymous Vehicle Tracking. In IEEE 5th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems, IEEE Press, Los Alamitos, Calif., 2002, pp. 583–585.
7.
CheuR. L.XieC. and LeeD.-H.. Probe Vehicle Population and Sample Size for Arterial Speed Estimation. Computer-Aided Civil & Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 17, No. 12002, pp. 53–60.
Van AerdeM.MacKinnonG. and HellingaB.. The Generation of Synthetic O-D Demands from Real-Time Vehicle Probe Data: Potential and Limitations. In Vehicle Navigation and Information Systems Conference Proceedings, Vol. 2, Dearborn, Mich., Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa., 1991.
12.
Iteris, Inc.National ITS Architecture. Technical Report. U.S. Department of Transportation, 2002. itsarch.iteris.com/itsarch/.
13.
van KatwijkR. and van KoningsbruggenP.. Coordination of Traffic Management Instruments Using Agent Technology. Transportation Research C: Emerging Technologies, Vol. 10, Nos. 5–6, 2002, pp. 455–471.
14.
HernandezJ. Z.OssowskiS. and García-SerranoA.. Multiagent Architectures for Intelligent Traffic Management Systems. Transportation Research C: Emerging Technologies, Vol. 10, Nos. 5–6, 2002, pp. 473–506.
15.
ZhangJ. Zero Public Infrastructure Vehicle Based Traffic Information System. Presented at 82nd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 2003.
16.
LogiF. and RitchieS. G.. A Multi-Agent Architecture for Cooperative Inter-Jurisdictional Traffic Congestion Management. Transportation Research C: Emerging Technologies, Vol. 10, Nos. 5–6, 2002, pp. 507–527.
17.
AdlerJ. L. and BlueV. J.. A Cooperative Multi-Agent Transportation Management and Route Guidance System. Transportation Research C: Emerging Technologies, Vol. 10, Nos. 5–6, 2002, pp. 433–454.
18.
KherS.TokekarS. and ChandeP. K.. Self Sustaining Traffic Management System and Its Compartmental Modeling. Proc., IEEE 5th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems, IEEE Press, Los Alamitos, Calif., 2002, pp. 639–644.
