Differential Evolution Based Numerical Variable Speed Limit Control Method with a Non-Equilibrium Traffic Model

Strnad, Irena (author), Marsetič, Rok (author)

This paper introduces a numerical variable speed limit (VSL) control method on a motorway, modeled by the system of partial differential equations (PDEs) of a non- equilibrium continuum traffic model. The method consists of a macroscopic simulation (i.e., numerical solution of the system of PDEs of the continuum model), introduction of the solution-based cost function and numerical optimization with a differential evolution algorithm (DE). Due to the numerical solution scheme, the method enables application of a wide range of continuum traffic models without prior discretization of PDEs. In this way, the method overcomes the limitations of the basic continuum models and represents a step towards more accurate traffic modelling in control strategies. In this paper, we determine optimal variable speed limits with the DE algorithm on a motorway section modeled by the modified switching curve model, which is a non-equilibrium continuum model consistent with the three-phase traffic flow theory. The effectiveness of the determined variable speed limits is validated using microsimulations of the test section, which show promising reductions of queue lengths and number of stops.

• Language: English
• Keywords: differential evolution, optimal control, numerical method, continuum traffic flow model, variable speed limit
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 2, art. 265
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-146464
• UDC: 656.1
• ISSN on article: 2227-7390
• DOI: 10.3390/math11020265
• COBISS.SI-ID: 137155587
• Publication date in RUL: 02.06.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Mathematics
• Shortened title: Mathematics
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2227-7390
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523267865

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: diferencialna evolucija, optimalna kontrola, numerična metoda, kontinuitetni model prometnega toka, spremenljive omejitve hitrosti