Methodology for processing archived ITS data for reliability analysis in urban networks

Abstract

Advanced traffic monitoring and control systems constitute the core of Intelligent Transport Systems deployed in metropolitan areas. This study presents a methodology to exploit large amounts of traffic flow data collected by such a system for analysing travel reliability in urban networks. Travel reliability is described here through the measures of network-wide traffic variability and corridor traffic volatility. The analysis of these measures is undertaken within illustrative computational examples, which employ suitable statistical tests and time series models applied into the road network of Athens, Greece. The results lead to identifying hierarchical levels of variability at the whole network and different types of traffic volatility in an urban corridor. The paper discusses the potential benefits of the methodology to enhance the deployment of Advanced Traffic Management Systems and Advanced Traveller Information Systems in urban areas.