Objective
The objective of the EUROCOR project is to develop and implement (by field trials on two test sites) models and on-line control strategies for the effective management of traffic in urban corridors (integrated urban networks and motorways) including traffic signals, ramp metering and VMS.
The European urban corridor control (EUROCOR) project involves the development and implementation (by field trials on 2 test sites) of models and online control strategies for the effective management of traffic in urban corridors (integrated urban networks and motorways).
A literature review was performed, addressing existing urban, interurban and corridor traffic models and control tools, potentially suited for developing and evaluating advanced traffic control strategies within an integrated motorway/arterial urban corridor. The review included a preliminary screening of 67 candidate models and 30 control tools followed by a more detailed evaluation process that resulted in 6 short listed models, which appear suitable for the project's purposes and were recommended for further analysis, modification and application.
After the review evaluation, 2 of the short listed models (namely SSMT and METANET) have been finally selected for integration. Model integration included specifications, theoretical investigations, software development, and preliminary testing. The integrated corridor traffic model was given the name METACOR and will be used in the near future for offline testing of control strategies. Moreover, a further 4 short listed models will be used in the course of the project's investigations for one or both network sites. A feasibility study for the 2 test sites was performed, consisting of the networks statement, the control techniques statement, the application details, and the evaluation requirements and procedures. The final part of this feasibility study was the comparative appraisal where both sites were compared with respect to their requirements and characteristics.
Last achievement has been the development of preliminary functional and architectural requirements for both sites as well as the first field trial results related to the assessment of the impact of ramp metering on the Urban Corridor Peripherique traffic.
Technical Approach
The overall technical approach includes specification, system analysis, software development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated urban corridor modelling and control tools. A main intention is to establish flexible control approaches for urban corridors, to allow for different operational requirements in different corridor situations so as to encourage wide application of effective urban corridor control management. The work programme to be carried out within the project will allow both the development of the basic tools for corridor modelling and control and their application to real interactive motorway/urban route situations.
The application areas are two corridor sites which have partially different user requirements, traffic and environmental conditions and road and network characteristics. The different implementation tasks will have their own timing and method for each site, but a coordinated plan has been specified both to guarantee the achievement of the primary overall objectives and to ensure that the evaluation procedures lead to results that allow direct comparison between sites. Moreover, as much of the work as possible will be made common to both sites, in order to optimise the use of the resources available.
The project structure includes seven main stages: Review and assessment, feasibility, development and validation, off-line studies, on-line implementation, evaluation and recommendations.
The first stage was a critical review of corridor systems and urban and interurban control tools. In the second stage all aspects of the feasibility of implementing the intended control approach on the test sites were examined. This has been followed by the necessary development and off-line studies and will lead to the most important stage of the project, namely the on-site implementation and evaluation of the control approach. The final task will be to produce recommendations, based on the results of the evaluation studies, for the generalized application of urban corridor control throughout Europe, including operational specifications.
Key Issues
Enhancement of existing macroscopic simulation models.
Integration of urban traffic models with inter-urban traffic flow models.
Evaluation of the impact of ramp metering on the Urban Corridor Traffic
Development of tools for use in the on-line control of urban corridors
Validation of the new modelling approaches, in isolation, against appropriate existing real data and their subsequent integration into a single model for application to on-line control.
Specification and development of the necessary on-line control software.
Implementation through appropriate pilot projects of the on-line control on two urban corridor sites in Paris and in Amsterdam, each having partially different characteristics in terms of geometric structure and traffic demand.
Detailed evaluation of the field trials.
Recommendations for the implementation of urban corridor control by using RTI systems.
Expected Achievements
The METACOR Urban Corridor model will be validated, while the traffic assignment modelling, the integrated control design, the off-line simulation testings, the overall integrated system architecture and the field trials specifications, design and evaluation will be performed, during the lifetime of the project.
Expected Impact
The main purpose of EUROCOR is the development and demonstration of an integrated traffic control strategy using urban and inter-urban control tools.
The impact of the project could be significant if it can:
satisfy the requirements of users and operators for more efficient traffic control
develop marketable prototypes.
Furthermore, a specific emphasis will be to provide easy and cost effective solutions for the application of new RTI systems developed in the field of traffic control.
Finally the EUROCOR approach shall reflect the need to come as early as possible to European - Internationally accepted traffic control strategies and specifications permitting the development of a universal environment of RTI based traffic control system.
In the technological area, EUROCOR will try to link the strategies for urban control with those for interurban control, by applying them to the sites and therefore improving the information exchange between the various "actors" in the traffic scene, and offering a "package" solution of obvious European value.
Contribution to Standardization
During the planning and execution of the EUROCOR pilots, various existing standards will be applied and tested in practice.
The whole work will contribute within its scope of application to a wide range of topics including:
Functional specifications
Recommendation for standards
Evaluation of operability of Road transport informatics in Europe
Recommendations regarding safety aspects
Commercial use and benefits of Road transport informatics in Europe
Fields of science
Topic(s)
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Data not availableFunding Scheme
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11473 ATHENS
Greece