Traffic mean speed evaluation in freeway systems

Abstract

The problem of analyzing the behaviour of freeway systems is dealt with in this paper. The analysis is carried on by suitably modeling traffic behaviour on freeway stretches and, then, by estimating such significant quantities as the traffic mean speed and travel times by simulation. The adopted model representing freeway traffic behaviour is based on a classical macroscopic model, but presents the novelty of being able to describe the behaviour of different classes of vehicles. Basing on such a model a simulation tool has been implemented whose major feature stands in the fact that it is connected with a set of measurement devices operating on the considered freeway stretch. In this sense, the simulation tool receives and processes real-time data from the freeway, thus constituting a real-time evaluation instrument to be effectively adopted by freeway managers.