ASTRA – Traffic Modelling - Application of a cell transmission model in traffic control

Project Description

Traffic flow models represent one possibility for the large scale reconstruction of the current traffic situation as well as for the determination of a short term forecast. While macroscopic traffic flow models based on origin-destination matrices with a comparatively rough spatial resolution are used primarily for planning purposes, microscopic and macroscopic traffic flow models using inflows at the boundaries of the network are capable of representing the dynamics of the traffic situation in a spatio-temporally differentiated structure, especially on freeways and arterial roads. According to these considerations, a macroscopic traffic flow model for national roads in Switzerland will be developed and applied in this project using an adapted cell transmission model. Coupled with the already available traffic data with high temporal resolution, this model will provide a detailed traffic situation (spatially and temporally) including short-term forecasts (e.g. forecast horizon 2 h). The main focus of the project is initially the high-performance road network.

Tasks of the Chair

• Support in the creation of the network model
• Development of a traffic demand model
• Validation of the traffic flow model