An Evaluation Method of Road Link Functionality Using Individual Trajectory Data and Weighted Network Analysis

Abstract

Road links within a city are hierarchical according to their structure and function. Upper-level road links, such as highways and arterials, are designed to maintain higher mobility and traffic flow, while lower-level road links should be more accessible. However, depending on the origin-destination demand pattern (O-D), drivers’ route choice, land use, and urban infrastructure, the actual usage pattern of roads could be different from the designed intention. This difference ultimately puts a load on certain road links and causes traffic jams. In order to handle this issue, it is necessary to create an appropriate evaluation method for the functionality of road links in advance. The research suggests an evaluation method to examine the functionalities of the roadways by using real-world mobility data and weighted network analysis. In the study, the roles of links were defined and quantified by three network attributes, in-strength, out-strength, and betweenness centrality. Derived attributes were used to cluster links with similar travel patterns. Furthermore, the concept of link reliability was introduced to measure the reliance of the network on individual links. Those network indices make it possible to evaluate the functioning of roads based on people’s travel patterns and to detect critical links that are irreplaceable and difficult to detour. This information can be used to determine the priorities of upcoming improvements and ultimately improve the efficiency of operation and maintenance of the road link networks.