Automatic Resolution of Road Network Conflicts using Displacement Algorithms Orchestrated by Geographical Agents

This paper details the design of a system which automatically applies road section displacements to solve spatial conflicts. The dataset used in the study is the OS MasterMap Integrated Transport Network™ Layer (ITN). The dataset can be partitioned using the major roads as boundaries to give a set of non-overlapping polygons which are known as partition areas. The method to detect and measure conflicts between roads within partition areas (Thom 2006) has been extended to work on groups of road sections. We describe the resolution of conflicts using two commercially available displacement algorithms, Beams (Bader and Barrault 2001) and Least Square Adjustment (Push) (Sester 2000). Also automatic trimming of culs-de-sac is utilized where appropriate. The rationale and method of applying these algorithms using the Agent system, and the use of the improved conflict detection method to assay their success is described. This paper will explain the necessary components of the system, and then the order of applying the processes will be laid out.