Calibration of a micro-traffic simulation model with respect to the spatial-temporal evolution of expressway on-ramp bottlenecks

On-ramp bottlenecks are usually the direct cause of traffic breakdowns on expressways, affecting the overall traffic operation of the expressway. A high-precision simulation model is the basis of an on-ramp bottleneck active traffic management strategy design and evaluation. This paper presents a practical and effective calibration method with respect to the congestion spatial-temporal evolution and two-capacity phenomenon of bottlenecks. An integrated criterion is proposed to evaluate how well the micro-simulation model can replicate the breakdown process. The widely used micro-traffic simulation model VISSIM is selected to simulate two on-ramp bottlenecks on an expressway in Shanghai, China. Firstly, 28 parameters of car-following and lane-changing behaviors are analyzed, and nine significant parameters of the operation at on-ramp bottlenecks are selected using sensitive analysis. Then, an orthogonal experiment is conducted to seek the best parameter combination. Finally, the calibrated simulation model is validated using a dataset of other days. Moreover, the transferability of the calibrated model is tested at Wuning bottleneck. The results show that the calibrated model can not only replicate the congestion evolution process and the special early onset breakdown phenomenon, but it can also apply to other similar on-ramp bottlenecks directly. The proposed calibration procedure, the integrated criterion for precision evaluation, and the selected significant parameters are meaningful to inspire rapid and effective calibration for other simulators.

[1]  Will Recker,et al.  Performance evaluation of adaptive ramp-metering algorithms using microscopic traffic simulation model , 2004 .

[2]  Orazio Giuffrè,et al.  Traffic simulation models calibration using speed-density relationship: An automated procedure based on genetic algorithm , 2016, Expert Syst. Appl..

[3]  Michael J. Cassidy,et al.  A capacity-increasing mechanism in freeway traffic , 2012 .

[4]  Markos Papageorgiou,et al.  Macroscopic traffic flow model calibration using different optimization algorithms , 2017, Oper. Res..

[5]  B. Kerner.  Empirical macroscopic features of spatial-temporal traffic patterns at highway bottlenecks. , 2002, Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics.

[6]  Jian Sun,et al.  Mechanism of Early-Onset Breakdown at On-Ramp Bottlenecks on Shanghai, China, Expressways , 2014 .

[7]  Michael J. Cassidy,et al.  METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING DYNAMICS OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC FLOW , 1995 .

[8]  Markos Papageorgiou,et al.  Macroscopic traffic flow model validation at congested freeway off-ramp areas , 2014 .

[9]  Byungkyu Park,et al.  Microscopic Simulation Model Calibration and Validation: Case Study of VISSIM Simulation Model for a Coordinated Actuated Signal System , 2003 .

[10]  H. Michael Zhang,et al.  Calibration of Microsimulation with Heuristic Optimization Methods , 2007 .

[11]  Daniel J. Dailey,et al.  Freeway Micro-simulation Calibration: Case Study Using Aimsun and VISSIM with Detailed Field Data , 2014 .

[12]  Roberto Horowitz,et al.  Congested Freeway Microsimulation Model Using VISSIM , 2004 .

[13]  Xin Jin,et al.  CALIBRATION OF FRESIM FOR SINGAPORE EXPRESSWAY USING GENETIC ALGORITHM , 1998 .

[14]  Alexandra Kondyli,et al.  Sensitivity analysis of CORSIM with respect to the process of freeway flow breakdown at bottleneck locations , 2012, Simul. Model. Pract. Theory.

[15]  Robert L. Bertini,et al.  OBSERVATIONS AT A FREEWAY BOTTLENECK , 1999 .

[16]  Orazio Giuffrè,et al.  A Statistical Approach for Calibrating a Microsimulation Model for Freeways , 2014 .

[17]  Michael J. Cassidy,et al.  Increasing Capacity of an Isolated Merge by Metering its On-Ramp , 2004 .

[18]  Chris Lee,et al.  Evaluation of Variable Speed Limits to Improve Traffic Safety , 2006 .

[19]  Moshe Ben-Akiva,et al.  Evaluation of ramp control algorithms using microscopic traffic simulation , 2002 .

[20]  Xuegang Ban,et al.  Bottleneck Identification and Calibration for Corridor Management Planning , 2007 .

[21]  A. Paz,et al.  Holistic Calibration of Microscopic Traffic Flow Models: Methodology and Real World Application Studies , 2015 .

[22]  Xiaoguang Yang,et al.  Micro-simulation of urban expressway weaving sections using field data in Shanghai , 2004, Proceedings. The 7th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (IEEE Cat. No.04TH8749).

[23]  Jian Sun,et al.  Online evaluation of an integrated control strategy at on-ramp bottleneck for urban expressways in Shanghai , 2014 .

[24]  Sarintorn Winyoopadit.  Development and Comparative Evaluation of Ramp Metering Algorithms Using Microscopic Traffic Simulation , 2007 .

[25]  H. M. Zhang,et al.  Investigation of the early-onset breakdown phenomenon at urban expressway bottlenecks in Shanghai , 2014 .

[26]  Jian Sun,et al.  Some Flow Features at Urban Expressway On-ramp Bottlenecks in Shanghai , 2014 .

[27]  Laurence R. Rilett,et al.  Genetic-algorithm based approach for calibrating microscopic simulation models , 2001, ITSC 2001. 2001 IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems. Proceedings (Cat. No.01TH8585).

[28]  Jian Sun,et al.  Relationship of Lane Width to Safety for Urban Expressways , 2015 .

[29]  C. Daganzo,et al.  The bottleneck mechanism of a freeway diverge , 2002 .

[30]  M. Cassidy,et al.  Some traffic features at freeway bottlenecks , 1999 .

[31]  Mohammed Hadi,et al.  Modeling Reductions in Freeway Capacity due to Incidents in Microscopic Simulation Models , 2007 .