Objective
This project aims to achieve better traffic conditions on urban principal roads and motorways, to improve operational and implementation aspects and to demonstrate the usefulness of tidal flow systems in an integrated road traffic environment (IRTE).
Existing tidal flow systems have been reviewed. Operator's and user's requirements are analysed in order to develop and improve management strategies. The improved strategies will be investigated in both simulations and field trials.
Achievements so far include survey and analysis of 37 tidal flow systems, field trials specifications for test sites at Barcelona and Lisbon, control strategies for the 2 test sites, field trial results, installation of the tidal flow system in Lisbon, extension of existing simulation tools to tidal flow operation (programs SIMNET, MASOS, BITS) and simulation results.
A prototype was made available on 01/09/92
An examination of tidal flow systems (TFS) and appropriate control strategies for their operation was carried out. Recommendations on operational and implementation issues were based on a series of strategies applied to 2 different sites:
a rather large tidal flow system (seven lanes with three reversible) in Barcelona;
a smaller one (three lanes with one reversible) in Lisboa.
Furthermore, the benefit tidal flow systems could bring in the framework of an integrated road transport environment (IRTE) was also investigated.
It was found that TFSs could evolve as a system which might substantially change the whole road transport environment as the urban network as a whole is only partially utilized during peak periods due to the inability of present systems to cope with directional flows of traffic. It was concluded that tidal flow systems should primarily be based on traffic light control, and the development of electronic awareness to avoid conflict at junction. Their successful application could help to advance the notion that future traffic control (and its subordinate route guidance systems) might well be based on a different principle of traffic handling and, consequently, may have implications for the design of urban networks.
Existing tidal flow systems will be reviewed. Operator's and user's requirements will be analysed in order to develop and improve management strategies. The improved strategies will be investigated in both simulations and field trials.
The main tasks of this project can be summarized as follows:
- Review of existing tidal flow systems (TFS);
- Analysis of user and operator requirements;
- Development and improvement of strategies;
- Test of new strategies by both simulation and field trials;
- Definition of inter-relationships with other RTI systems;
- Recommendations on the general implementation aspects of TFS, decision making according to transitions, control and operational criteria.
Main Deliverables:
Demonstration in LISBOA and BARCELONA. Simulation results and recommendations for implementation and operation.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
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20457 Hamburg
Germany