Environmentally Optimized Management of Urban Road Networks

Abstract

In this paper we address the optimal management of an urban road network by combining optimal control of partial differential equations, numerical simulation and optimization techniques. Specifically, we are interested in analyzing the optimal management of the intersections of an urban road network, in order to reduce both atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion. To optimize the network management, we consider a multi-objective optimal control problem, balancing—within a cooperative Pareto framework—a traffic cost function involving travel times and outflows, and a pollution cost function related to contaminant concentrations. In the second part of this work we present numerical tests for a real-world example of ecological interest, posed in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (Mexico), where the possibilities of our approach are shown.