Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data

Fixed-section detection methods, with radar and video as representatives, frequently encounter incomplete detection data at controlled intersections because of high construction costs and insufficient maintenance. This results in ineffective signal control strategies. On the other hand, mobile detec...

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Main Authors: Lili Zhang, Kang Yang, Ke Zhang, Wei Wei, Jing Li, Hongxin Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Alexandria Engineering Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016824014224
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author Lili Zhang
Kang Yang
Ke Zhang
Wei Wei
Jing Li
Hongxin Tan
author_facet Lili Zhang
Kang Yang
Ke Zhang
Wei Wei
Jing Li
Hongxin Tan
author_sort Lili Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Fixed-section detection methods, with radar and video as representatives, frequently encounter incomplete detection data at controlled intersections because of high construction costs and insufficient maintenance. This results in ineffective signal control strategies. On the other hand, mobile detection methods, represented by floating cars, can perceive both macro and micro spatial-temporal characteristics of traffic flow. However, their current low penetration rate limits their ability to provide sufficient data support for signal control at intersections.To address this issue, this paper proposes an innovative method to obtain more accurate flow rates for each phase at an intersection through simulation approximation of calibrated parameters. This method utilizes the Webster delay theory to quantitatively describe the relationship between phase flow and vehicle delay, allowing for the inverse estimation of flow rates. These estimated flow rates are then refined using the proposed Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network approximation method to achieve higher accuracy. Comprehensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively improves the accuracy of inverse flow data estimation. This enables the effective utilization of low-penetration-rate floating car data (FCD) in signal control at urban intersections. By leveraging this innovative approach, signal control systems can make more informed decisions, leading to smoother traffic flow and improved traffic management in urban areas.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1110-0168
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Alexandria Engineering Journal
spelling doaj-art-20d00126a31d4c089c1d98b4f3bbec792025-01-29T05:00:18ZengElsevierAlexandria Engineering Journal1110-01682025-01-01112374383Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle dataLili Zhang0Kang Yang1Ke Zhang2Wei Wei3Jing Li4Hongxin Tan5Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, China; Corresponding author.Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, ChinaBeijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, ChinaBeijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, ChinaBeijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing 102617, ChinaScience and Technology on Complex Aviation Systems Simulation Laboratory, Beijing 100076, ChinaFixed-section detection methods, with radar and video as representatives, frequently encounter incomplete detection data at controlled intersections because of high construction costs and insufficient maintenance. This results in ineffective signal control strategies. On the other hand, mobile detection methods, represented by floating cars, can perceive both macro and micro spatial-temporal characteristics of traffic flow. However, their current low penetration rate limits their ability to provide sufficient data support for signal control at intersections.To address this issue, this paper proposes an innovative method to obtain more accurate flow rates for each phase at an intersection through simulation approximation of calibrated parameters. This method utilizes the Webster delay theory to quantitatively describe the relationship between phase flow and vehicle delay, allowing for the inverse estimation of flow rates. These estimated flow rates are then refined using the proposed Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network approximation method to achieve higher accuracy. Comprehensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively improves the accuracy of inverse flow data estimation. This enables the effective utilization of low-penetration-rate floating car data (FCD) in signal control at urban intersections. By leveraging this innovative approach, signal control systems can make more informed decisions, leading to smoother traffic flow and improved traffic management in urban areas.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016824014224FCDLow percentageTraffic back-steppingRBF approximation
spellingShingle Lili Zhang
Kang Yang
Ke Zhang
Wei Wei
Jing Li
Hongxin Tan
Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data
Alexandria Engineering Journal
FCD
Low percentage
Traffic back-stepping
RBF approximation
title Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data
title_full Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data
title_fullStr Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data
title_full_unstemmed Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data
title_short Estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data
title_sort estimating traffic flow at urban intersections using low occupancy floating vehicle data
topic FCD
Low percentage
Traffic back-stepping
RBF approximation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110016824014224
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AT kangyang estimatingtrafficflowaturbanintersectionsusinglowoccupancyfloatingvehicledata
AT kezhang estimatingtrafficflowaturbanintersectionsusinglowoccupancyfloatingvehicledata
AT weiwei estimatingtrafficflowaturbanintersectionsusinglowoccupancyfloatingvehicledata
AT jingli estimatingtrafficflowaturbanintersectionsusinglowoccupancyfloatingvehicledata
AT hongxintan estimatingtrafficflowaturbanintersectionsusinglowoccupancyfloatingvehicledata