Objective
The HERMES project aims at increasing traffic safety and efficiency through improved knowledge of the current state of traffic in a given road network and through the application of control strategies which are based on this knowledge.
Technical Approach
The HERMES project focusses on the enhancement and application of traffic control strategies that are based on on-line Origin/Destination information and Automatic Incident Detection. This work is largely based on results achieved previously in the DRIVE I projects ODIN (V1047) and MONICA (V1056):
In ODIN, algorithms for the on-line estimation of Origins and Destinations of the major streams in urban and interurban road networks have been developed.
In MONICA, algorithms for Automatic Incident Detection on motorways and in urban areas have been developed. Both of these types of algorithms are to be validated now within HERMES in on-line applications.
In the same two projects, initial developments for control models and strategies for rerouteing and traffic signal control that can use this information have been undertaken. Simulation results have already shown that the effectiveness of rerouteing and signal control can be substantially increased, if they are based on O/D information. Detailed rerouteing strategies have been partly developed, but before any implementation is possible, further enhancement is still required as part of the work in HERMES before they can be implemented in a pilot project. The original concept for the on-line network signal control program MOTION, developed in ODIN, has been enlarged within the HERMES project to include automatic incident detection and the appropriate signal control responses. Furthermore, MOTION now includes a number of features to provide absolute or relative bus priority (depending on the operators preselection) on network and local level.
Test sites for the O/D validation are RHAPIT (Rhein/Main) for the extraurban and SCOPE Cologne for the urban application. Within RHAPIT, this will be the basis for the validation of the rerouteing strategies, and within SCOPE Cologne for the test of the traffic signal control algorithms. The urban incident detection is to be tested in SCOPE Southampton, and the extraurban will be tested and compared with the performance of AID provided by INVAID II in MELYSSA (Lyon).
The work on concrete strategies and algorithms as outlined above is complemented by the developement of scenarios for the integrated use of these strategies in an integrated road transport environment.
Key Issues
Origin/Destination estimation
Automatic Incident Detection
On-line traffic control
Rerouteing strategies
Traffic signal control (MOTION)
Scenarios for integrated traffic control
Expected Achievements
The main outcome form the HERMES project are validated algorithms for urban and interurban AID and on-line O/D estimation, validated strategies for interurban rerouting, and the first prototype of the new on-line network signal control system MOTION.
Expected Impact
All algorithms and strategies to be developed and applied in HERMES will contribute to improving traffic flow and reducing congestion. The Automatic Incident Detection, in particular, also aims at increasing traffic safety through avoidance of secondary accidents. The developments towards integrated applications of strategies in HERMES will further contribute to the creation of the Integrated Road Transport Environment as envisaged in the DRIVE programme.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
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GU21 1DD Woking
United Kingdom