Method for the Experimental Identification of Variables and Configurations That Modify the Shape of the Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a method for establishing if a variable is capable of modifying the Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) of a street network. The variables have many different configurations, and a simulation is performed for each one. Then, based on the output data of each simulation, the representative speed, density, and flow of the network are calculated. We use three metrics to establish if a variable affects the MFD: the first establishes a distance between the compared density and speed patterns, the second establishes a distance between capacities, and the third establishes a distance between critical densities. We select four variables to test our method: the precision of driving, the vehicles’ top speeds distribution, the procedure for selecting routes, and the procedure for selecting destinations; we determine whether each of these variables can modify the MFD shape. Additionally, we detect which configurations of a variable are able to reach and exceed the critical density (causing congestion) so we can establish which configurations are sustainable and which are not. The novelties of this work are twofold: (1) we introduce a method to detect if a variable modifies the MFD; (2) we establish if the selected variables modify the MFD.