Reproduction of experimental spatio-temporal structures in traffic flows using mathematical model based on cellular automata theory

Abstract

The paper deals with mathematical modelling of traffic flows on urban road networks using cellular automata theory. Two versions of the model based on Nagel-Schreckenberg traffic flow model were created. They both are multilane, include complex driver behaviour algorithms and allow simulating traffic on various road elements and on road networks. One of the models is using “slow-to-start” concept that represents the fact that it takes drivers more time to accelerate when they just start moving in comparison with the situation when their speed is already above zero.
The goal of the work was to reproduce experimental spatio-temporal patterns on traffic velocity diagrams with the created models and to research the difference between them and to determine the range of the applicability for each.
Parallel algorithms of realisation for the models are created. Computations are carried out for each element of the road (T or X type intersection, on-ramp, road fragment with widening or bottleneck, straight road fragment, etc.) separately and in parallel, that allows performing calculations on various complex road networks. Different kinds of average characteristics (such as, for instance, the capacity of the crossroad) can be also obtained using the created program package.
Computations show that the results obtained are in an agreement with experimental data and therefore can be used for practical traffic flow modelling in cities.