nÃo hà / A modelagem microscÃpica do fluxo de veÃculos na infraestrutura viÃria urbana tem se constituÃdo uma potencial ferramenta para a anÃlise do desempenho da seguranÃa viÃria (DSV) frente aos tradicionais mÃtodos de anÃlise com base nos estudos observacionais. Para consolidar essa abordagem existem desafios prÃticos e metodolÃgicos que foram tratados como objetivos nesta pesquisa, dentre os quais se destacam: (i) a identificaÃÃo de indicadores proxy eficientes para as anÃlises de seguranÃa nesse ambiente; (ii) a anÃlise dos algoritmos de microssimulaÃÃo quanto a sua eficÃcia de representaÃÃo dos processos de conduÃÃo no meio urbano, (iii) a definiÃÃo de um procedimento sistemÃtico de estimaÃÃo do DSV com o uso de microssimuladores de trÃfego e (iv) a validaÃÃo dos indicadores sintÃticos usados para medir o DSV. Diante deste contexto, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo geral apresentar uma contribuiÃÃo metodolÃgica para a utilizaÃÃo da microssimulaÃÃo de trÃfego nas anÃlises do DSV no processo de planejamento tÃtico operacional dos sistemas de transporte com foco nas interseÃÃes urbanas. O procedimento metodolÃgico proposto considerou a realizaÃÃo de cinco etapas: 1) seleÃÃo e caracterizaÃÃo do local de estudo, 2) codificaÃÃo do local no microssimulador, 3) planejamento da simulaÃÃo, 4) calibraÃÃo e validaÃÃo do modelo e 5) estimaÃÃo dos indicadores. A aplicaÃÃo do procedimento considerou trÃs interseÃÃes semaforizadas da cidade de Fortaleza, utilizando a plataforma de microssimulaÃÃo de trÃfego VISSIM. Os resultados alcanÃados indicaram que foi possÃvel estimar o DSV com relativo nÃvel de confianÃa e um procedimento complementar de validaÃÃo dos indicadores revelou um nÃvel de consistÃncia entre o nÃmero estimado de conflitos de interaÃÃes longitudinais e o nÃmero observado de colisÃes traseiras observadas em campo. / The microscopic modeling of traffic flow in urban road infrastructure has proven to be a potential tool for analyzing the performance of road safety (DSV) compared to traditional methods of analysis based on observational studies. To consolidate this approach there are practical and methodological challenges that have been treated as objectives in this research, among which are: (i) the identification of efficient synthetic indicators for the analysis of safety in this environment, (ii) the analysis of the microscopic algorithms and their effectiveness in the representation of the driving processes in urban areas, (iii) the definition of a systematic procedure for estimating the DSV using a microscopic platform and (iv) concerning the validation of synthetic indicators used to measure the DSV. Given this context, this research intended to provide a general methodological contribution to the use of microscopic traffic simulators for the analysis of the DSV in tactical and operational transportation systems planning process with focus on urban intersections. The proposed methodological procedure considered the completion of five steps: 1) selection and site characterization study, 2) coding the site in microsimulator 3) planning of the simulation, 4) calibration and validation of the model and 5) estimation of the indicators. The procedure considered three signalized intersections in the city of Fortaleza, using VISSIM  as simulation platform. The results indicated that it was possible to estimate the DSV with relative confidence level and a complementary procedure for validation of the indicators showed a consistent level of consistency between the estimated number of conflicts of longitudinal interactions and observed number of rear end collisions observed in the field.

As roadside and in-vehicle sensors are deployed under the Connected Vehicle Research program (formerly known as Vehicle Infrastructure Integration initiative and Intellidrive), an increasing variety of traffic data is becoming available in real time. This real time traffic data is shared among vehicles and between vehicles and traffic management centers through wireless communication. This course of events creates an opportunity for mobile computing and online traffic simulations. However, online traffic simulations require faster than real time running speed with high simulation resolution, since the purpose of the simulations is to provide immediate future traffic forecast based on real time traffic data. However, simulating at high resolution is often too computationally intensive to process a large scale network on a single processor in real time. To mitigate this limitation an online ad hoc distributed simulation with optimistic execution is proposed in this study. The objective of this study is to develop an online traffic simulation system based on an ad hoc distributed simulation with optimistic execution. In this system, data collection, processing, and simulations are performed in a distributed fashion. Each individual simulator models the current traffic conditions of its local vicinity focusing only on its area of interest, without modeling other less relevant areas. Collectively, a central server coordinates the overall simulations with an optimistic execution technique and provides a predictive model of traffic conditions in large areas by combining simulations geographically spread over large areas. This distributed approach increases computing capacity of the entire system and speed of execution. The proposed model manages the distributed network, synchronizes the predictions among simulators, and resolves simulation output conflicts. Proper feedback allows each simulator to have accurate input data and eventually produce predictions close to reality. Such a system could provide both more up-to-date and robust predictions than that offered by centralized simulations within a single transportation management center. As these systems evolve, the online traffic predictions can be used in surface transportation management and travelers will benefit from more accurate and reliable traffic forecast.

A great deal of research has been conducted on Central Florida toll roads to better understand the characteristics of the tolling operation. In this thesis, the development and calibration of a toll plaza simulation models will be analyzed using two simulation programs varying mostly in their modeling theory. The two models utilized are, SHAKER, a deterministic queuing model for vehicles utilizing toll collection facilities, and VISSIM, a globally popular stochastic simulation software. The benefits of simulation models leads to the purpose of this thesis, which is to examine the effectiveness of two toll modeling programs that are similar in purpose but vary in approach and methodology. Both SHAKER and VISSIM toll plaza models have the potential to work as a tool that can estimate the maximum throughput and capacity of toll plazas. Major operational benefits resulting from developing these models are to simulate and evaluate how traffic conditions will change when demand increases, when and if queues increase when a lane is closed due to maintenance or construction, the impact of constructing additional lanes, or determining whether or not the best lane type configuration is currently implemented. To effectively calibrate any model available site data must be used to compare simulation results to for model validity. In an effort to correctly calibrate the SHAKER toll plaza tool and VISSIM model, an extensive field collection procedure was conducted at four Florida Turnpike operated toll facilities located in Central Florida. Each site differed from the others in terms of number of lanes, lane configuration, toll base fee, highway location, traffic demand, and vehicle percentage. The sites chosen for data collection were: the Lake Jesup Mainline Plaza along the Seminole Expressway (SR-417), the Beachline West Expressway Toll Plaza along the SR-528, the Daniel Webster Western Beltway Plaza along SR-429, and the Leesburg Toll Plaza along the Florida Turnpike Mainline SR-91. Upon completion of calibration of the two simulation models it is determined that each of the two software are successful in modeling toll plaza capacity and queuing. As expected, each simulation model does possess benefits over the other in terms of set up time, analysis reporting time, and practicality of results. The SHAKER model setup takes mere seconds in order to create a network and input vehicle, another few seconds to calibrate driving parameters, and roughly 10 additional seconds to report analysis. Conversely, setting up the VISSIM model, even for the most experienced user, can take several hours and the report analysis time can take several more hours as it is dependant on the number of required simulation runs and complexity of the network. VISSIM is most beneficial by the fact that its modeling allows for driver variability while SHAKER assumes equilibrium amongst lane choice and queuing. This creates a more realistic condition to observed traffic patterns. Even though differences are prevalent, it is important that in each simulation model the capacity is accurately simulated and each can be used to benefit operational situations related to toll plaza traffic conditions.

A key component of traffic models for simulating bicycle traffic focuses on capturing the interactions between cyclists and the cycling infrastructure. One of the most relevant features of the infrastructure that has a significant impact in bicycle traffic is the gradient of a bicycle path. Bicycle traffic simulations are a rather uninvestigated topic since historically, most focus on simulations has been on cars. However, bicycle simulations are an important tool to further investigate and understand cyclist’s behaviour. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis is to investigate and simulate free-riding behavior of cyclists in connection to the gradient, particularly on downhills. To do so, trajectory data of cyclists traveling on a downhill with a maximum gradient of 5.5\% are analysed to identify the impact of gradient on the speed and acceleration. The data received needed processing in order to be useful. This included filtering of the trajectories and excluding the data from cyclists which could not to be regarded as free-riding. As a result, a linear correlation is found between pedaling power and the gradient that can be used in microscopic bicycle traffic simulation. Based on this knowledge regarding this linearity, the approach used for modeling the gradient’s effect on the pedaling power is linear regression. The model can be developed in various ways, so instead of only choosing one model, several were developed and compared against each other. These models are then used for the simulation. The results indicate that the simulation captures well the impact of downhill gradients in a population of cyclists as it reproduces similar speed profiles to the ones observed. Therefore, it can be concluded that a power-based model is suitable for simulating free-riding behaviour of cyclists traveling in downhills. / En nyckelfaktor i trafikmodeller för cykelsimuleringar är att beskriva interaktionen mellan cykister och den omgivande infrastrukturen. En av de mest relevanta faktorerna hos infrastrukturen som har en signifikant påverkan på cykeltrafiken är lutningen på vägen. Simuleringar av cykeltrafik är ett tämligen outforskat område eftersom historiskt sett har mest fokus legat på simulering av bilar. Simuleringar är dock ett viktigt verktyg för att vidare undersöka cyklisters beteenden. Därmed är det huvudsakliga syftet med detta arbete att undersöka fria cyklisters beteenden med specifikt fokus på cyklister som cyklar i nedförsbackar. För att göra detta har data från cyklister som cyklar i nedförsbackar med en maximal lutning på 5.5\% analyserats för att analysera hur lutningen påverkar cyklisternas hastighet och acceleration. Den tillgängliga datan behövde bearbetning för att kunna användas. Detta innebar att filtrera datan samt att exkludera cyklister som ej kunde anses vara fria. Detta resulterade i att en linjär korrelation mellan effekten på pedalerna och lutningen på backen, denna korrelation kan användas för mikroskopisk cykelsimulering. Baserat på denna kunskap gällande linjäriteten kan linjär regressionsanalys användas för att modellera väglutningens inverkan på effekten från cyklisten. Modellen kan utvecklas på många olika sätt, och istället för att enbart välja en av dessa så utvecklades flera som kan jämföras med varandra. Dessa modeller används sedan för simuleringen. Resultaten indikerar att simuleringarna väl beskriver nedförsbackarnas påverkan på cyklister då simuleringarna genererar liknande hastighetskurvor som den uppmätta datan. Därmed kan slutsatsen dras att effektbaserade modeller är lämpliga för att simulera fria cyklisters beteenden när de cyklar i nedförsbackar.

In September 2014, a new regulation was proposed in Sweden, which indicates aset of rules of giving way under different types of bicycle intersections. Meanwhile,new definitions were endued to bicycle passages and bicycle crossings. After thepriority of cyclists is guaranteed at bicycle crossings, potential delay for motorvehicles in the mainstream should not be ignored as well.Therefore, inspired by the previous study from Movea, this thesis project is goingto focus on unsupervised bicycle passages and bicycle crossings, with the aim ofassessing and inspecting the impacts of different bicycle intersections on vehicledelays.The relationship between delay and flows at bicycle intersections has beenresearched in detail. Initially, an empirical study has been carried out on the basisof data from field measurements. In addition, a microscopic traffic simulationmodel has been constructed for the analysis of theoretical situations. The delay isproved to have a linear relationship with vehicle flow and bicycle flow. However,the linear relationship based on field data turns out to be different from the onefrom simulation output.

Variable Speed Limit (VSL) strategies identify and disseminate dynamic speed limits that are determined to be appropriate based on prevailing traffic conditions, road surface conditions, and weather conditions. This dissertation develops and evaluates a shockwave-based VSL system that uses a heuristic switching logic-based controller with specified thresholds of prevailing traffic flow conditions. The system aims to improve operations and mobility at critical bottlenecks. Before traffic breakdown occurrence, the proposed VSL’s goal is to prevent or postpone breakdown by decreasing the inflow and achieving uniform distribution in speed and flow. After breakdown occurrence, the VSL system aims to dampen traffic congestion by reducing the inflow traffic to the congested area and increasing the bottleneck capacity by deactivating the VSL at the head of the congested area. The shockwave-based VSL system pushes the VSL location upstream as the congested area propagates upstream. In addition to testing the system using infrastructure detector-based data, this dissertation investigates the use of Connected Vehicle trajectory data as input to the shockwave-based VSL system performance. Since the field Connected Vehicle data are not available, as part of this research, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure communication is modeled in the microscopic simulation to obtain individual vehicle trajectories. In this system, wavelet transform is used to analyze aggregated individual vehicles’ speed data to determine the locations of congestion. The currently recommended calibration procedures of simulation models are generally based on the capacity, volume and system-performance values and do not specifically examine traffic breakdown characteristics. However, since the proposed VSL strategies are countermeasures to the impacts of breakdown conditions, considering breakdown characteristics in the calibration procedure is important to have a reliable assessment. Several enhancements were proposed in this study to account for the breakdown characteristics at bottleneck locations in the calibration process. In this dissertation, performance of shockwave-based VSL is compared to VSL systems with different fixed VSL message sign locations utilizing the calibrated microscopic model. The results show that shockwave-based VSL outperforms fixed-location VSL systems, and it can considerably decrease the maximum back of queue and duration of breakdown while increasing the average speed during breakdown.

The Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) describes the relation of average network flow, density and speed in urban networks. It can be estimated based on empirical or simulation data, or approximated analytically. Two main analytical approximation methods to derive the MFD for arterial roads and urban networks exist at the moment. These are the method of cuts (MoC) and related approaches, as well as the stochastic approximation (SA). This paper systematically evaluates these methods including their most recent advancements for the case of an urban arterial MFD. Both approaches are evaluated based on a traffic data set for a segment of an arterial in the city of Munich, Germany. This data set includes loop detector and signal data for a typical working day. It is found that the deterministic MoC finds a more accurate upper bound for the MFD for the studied case. The estimation error of the stochastic method is about three times higher than the one of the deterministic method. However, the SA outperforms the MoC in approximating the free-flow branch of the MFD. The analysis of the discrepancies between the empirical and the analytical MFDs includes an investigation of the measurement bias and an in-depth sensitivity study of signal control and public transport operation related input parameters. This study is conducted as a Monte-Carlo-Simulation based on a Latin Hypercube sampling. Interestingly, it is found that applying the MoC for a high number of feasible green-to-cycle ratios predicts the empirical MFD well. Overall, it is concluded that the availability of signal data can improve the analytical approximation of the MFD even for a highly inhomogeneous arterial.

This research is concerned with the modeling and development of algorithmic approaches for solving airport operational problems that arise in Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems within the terminal area at hub airports. Specifically, the problems addressed include the Aircraft Sequencing Problem (ASP) for runway operations, the Network Assignment Problem (NAP) for taxiway operations, and a simulation model for the evaluation of current or proposed ATC system in detail. For the ASP, we develop a mathematical model and apply the Reformulation-Linearization-Technique (RLT) of Sherali and Adams to construct an enhanced tightened version of the proposed model. Since ASP is NP-Hard and in fact, it is a variation of the well-known Traveling Salesman Problem with time-windows, sub-optimal solutions are usually derived to accommodate the real-time constraints of ATC systems. Nevertheless, we exhibit a significant advancement in this challenging class of problem. Also for the purpose of solving relatively large sized problems in practice, we develop and test suitable heuristic procedures. For the NAP, we propose a quasi-dynamic assignment scheme which is based on the incremental assignment technique. This quasi-dynamic assignment method assumes that the current aircraft route is influenced only by the previous aircraft assigned to the network. This simplified assumption obviates the need for iterative rerouting procedures to reach a pure equilibrium state which might not be achievable in practical taxiway operations. To evaluate the overall system, we develop a microscopic simulation model. The simulation model is designed to have the capability for reproducing not only the dynamic behavior of aircraft, but also incorporates communication activities between controllers and pilots. These activities are critical in ATC operations, and in some instances, might limit the capacity of the facility. Finally, using the developed simulation model named Virginia Tech Airport Simulation Model (VTASM) in concert with ASP and NAP, we compare the overall efficiencies of several control strategies, including that of the existing control system as well as of the proposed advanced control system. / Ph. D.

This thesis project investigates the state-of-the-art in traffic management "Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory (GLOSA)" for vehicles in a smart city. GLOSA utilizes infrastructure and vehicles communication through using current signal plan settings and updated vehicular information in order to influence the intersection approach speeds. The project involves traffic microscopic simulations for a mixed traffic environment of conventional and automated vehicles (AVs) both connected to the intersection control and guided by a speed advisory traffic management system. Among the project goals is to assess the effects on traffic performance when human drivers comply to the speed advice. The GLOSA management approach is accessed for its potential to improve traffic efficiency in a full market penetration of connected AVs with absolute compliance. The project also aims to determine the possible outcome resulting from enhancing the AVs capabilities such as implementing short time headways between vehicles in the future.  The best traffic performance results achieved by operating GLOSA goes for connected AVs with the lowest simulated time headway (0.3 sec). The waiting time reduction reaches 95% and trip delay lessens to 88 %.

Multimodality is a main requirement for future Urban Traffic Control (UTC). For cities and traffic engineers to implement multimodal UTC, a holistic, multimodal assessment of UTC measures is needed. This paper proposes a Multimodal Performance Index (MPI), which considers the delays and number of stops of different transport modes that are weighted to each other. To determine suitable mode-specific weights, a case study for the German city Ingolstadt is conducted using the microscopic simulation tool SUMO. In the case study, different UTC measures (bus priority, coordination for cyclists, coordination for private vehicle traffic) are implemented to a varying extent and evaluated according to different weight settings. The MPI calculation is done both network-wide and intersection-specific. The results indicate that a weighting according to the occupancy level of modes, as mainly proposed in the literature so far, is not sufficient. This applies particularly to cycling, which should be weighted according to its positive environmental impact instead of its occupancy. Besides, the modespecific weights have to correspond to the traffic-related impact of the mode-specific UTC measures. For Ingolstadt, the results are promising for a weighting according to the current modal split and a weighting with incentives for sustainable modes.