Skip to main content
Log in

Abstract

In this paper, we critically review mathematical models for the flow of traffic that treat traffic as a continuum and provide a discussion of their shortcomings. We also review a spatially discrete traffic flow model that does not suffer from such shortcomings and provide recently collected, corroborating data for a trip-time estimation scheme based on the spatially discrete model.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Monograph on traffic flow theory, Transportation Research Board, eds. Nathan Gartner, Carroll Messer and Ajay Rathi (1997)

  2. Abdel-Aty M.A., Kitamura R. and Jovanis P., Exploring Route Choice Behavior using GIS-Based Alternative Routes and Hypothetical Travel Time Information Input, Transportation Research Record 1493, pp. 74–80 (1995)

  3. van Arem B., Hogema J.H. and Vanderschuren M.J.W.A., An assessment of the impact of Autonomous Intelligent Cruise Control, TNO Report No: INRO-WG 1995-17a (1995)

  4. Bellomo N., Marasco A. and Romano A., From the modelling of drivers’ behavior to hydrodynamic models and problems of traffic flow, Nonlinear Analysis, Real World Applications, 3, 330–363 (2002)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Bose A. and Ioannou P., Analysis of Traffic Flow with Mixed Manual and Semi-Automated Vehicles, USC Report, CATT 99-01-10

  6. Brackstone M. and McDonald M., Car Following — A historical Review,“ Transportation Research Part F, 2, pp. 181–196 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chandler R.E., Herman R. and Montroll E.W., Traffic Dynamics: studies in car following, Operations Research, 6, pp. 165–184 (1958)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Chapman S. and Cowling T.G., The mathematical theory of nonuniform gases: An account of the kinetic theory of viscosity, thermal conduction and diffusion in gases, (Cambridge University Press), 3rd edition (1990)

  9. Chao Chen, Jia Z.F. and Varaiya P., Causes and Cures of Highway Congestion, IEEE Control Systems Mag., 26–32 December (2001)

  10. Chu K.-C., Decentralized Control of high speed vehicular strings, Transport. Sci., 8, 361–384 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Edie L.C., Car Following and Steady state theory for noncongested traffic, Operations Research, 9, 66–76 (1960)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  12. Garrard W.L., Caudill R.J., Kornhauser A.L., McKinnon D. and Brown S.J., State-of-the-Art longitudinal control of automated guideway transit vehicles, High Speed Ground Transportation Journal, 12(2) (1978)

  13. Chien C.C., Zhang Y., Stotsky A., Dharmasena S.R. and Ioannou P., Macroscopic Roadway Traffic Controller Design, California PATH Report, UCB-ITS-PRR-95-28, (1995)

  14. Daganzo C.F., Fundamentals of Traffic Flow and Transportation Systems (Pergamon) (1997)

  15. Daganzo C.F., Requiem for second-order fluid approximations of traffic flow, Transport. Res. B, 29B 277–286 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Darbha S. and Rajagopal K.R., A non-continuum approach to modelling the flow of traffic, Mathematical Modelling and Methods in Applied Sciences, 12(10), pp. 1381–1399 December (2002)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  17. Del Castillo J.M., Pintado P. and Benitez F.G., The reaction time of drivers and the stability of traffic flow, Transport. Res.-B., 28B, 35–60 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Drew D.R., Traffic Flow Theory and Control, McGraw-Hill (1968)

  19. Ginny Finch, Congestion pricing: reducing traffic jams through economics, Public Roads, 60(2), Autumn 96, p. 4–

  20. Forbes R.J., Notes on the history of ancient roads and their construction, NV Noord-Hoolandsche-Vitevers-MIJ, Amsterdam, (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Foster E.R., A constant separation control law for use in automated guideway transit, Proc. of 29th IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, pp. 358–361 (1979)

  22. Gazis D.C., Herman R. and Potts R., Car-following theory of steady state traffic flow, Operations Res., 7 499–595 (1959)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  23. Gazis D.C., Herman R. and Rothery R.W., Nonlinear follow the leader models of traffic flow, Operations Research, 7, 499–505 (1961)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  24. John H. Gibbons, Federal Strategy for Transportation Research and Development, In Forum on future directions in Transportation R & D, Joseph Sussman, Chairman, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Gipps P.B., A behavioral car-following model for computer simulation, Transportation Research, 20B, pp. 403–414 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Greenlee T.L. and Payne H. J., Freeway Ramp metering strategies for responding to incidents, Proc. of IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, pp. 982–987 (1977)

  27. Greenshields B.D., A study in Highway capacity, Highway Res. Rec., 14, p. 468 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Shaival Gupta and Swaroop D., Intelligent Cruise Control Systems and Traffic Flow Behavior, Appendix M, Evaluation of Intelligent Cruise Control System, Vol. II (Appendices), DOTVNTSC-NHTSA-3, DOT HS 808 969, Final Report, October (1999)

  29. Huandra R. and Swaroop D., Design of an Intelligent Cruise Control System based on a traffic flow specification, Vehicle System Dynamics Journal, 30(5), pp. 319–344 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ioannou P. and Chien C., Autonomous Intelligent Cruise Control, IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 42, 657–672 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Jovanis, Paul, Telecommunications and alternative work schedules: options for managing transit travel demand, Urban Affairs Quarterly, 19, p. 167–189 December (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Kometani E. and Sasaki T., Dynamic Behavior of traffic with a nonlinear spacing-speed relationship, In the Proceedings of the Symposium on Theory of Traffic Flow held at General Motors Research Laboratories, pp. 105–119 (1959)

  33. Lighthill M.J. and Witham G.B., On kinematic waves II: A theory of traffic flow on long crowded roads, in Proc. Roy. Soc. London, Series A., 229, 317–345 (1955)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  34. Madre J.L., Bussiere Y. and Armoogum J., Demographic Dynamics of Mobility in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Paris and Grenoble, In the Proc. of the 7th World Conference on Transportation Research, 1, pp. 287–303 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  35. May A.D., Traffic Flow Theory Fundamentals, (Prentice Hall) (1990).

  36. Michalopoulos P.G., Lin J. and Beskos D.E., Integrated modeling and numerical treatment of traffic flow, Appl. Math. Model., 11, 447–457 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Muralikrishnan J. and Rajagopal K.R., Review and uses and modeling of bitumen from ancient to modern times, Applied Mechanics Reviews, 56, pp. 149–214 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Milne-Thomson L.M., Theoretical Hydrodynamics, (Dover) (1996)

  39. Newell G.F., A simplified car-following theory: a lower order model, Transport. Res.-B., 36, 196–205 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Newell G.F., Mathematical Models for Freely-Flowing Highway Traffic, J. Operations Res. Soc. Amer., 3(2), 176–186 (1995)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  41. Newell G.F., Nonlinear effects in the dynamics of car-following, Operations Res., 9, 209–229 (1961)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  42. Palmquist U., Intelligent Cruise Control and Roadside Information, IEEE Micro 13, 1, pp. 20–28 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Papageorgiou M., Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, 50, (Springer Verlag) (1983)

  44. Papageorgiou M., Blosseville J. and Hadj-Salem H., Macroscopic modelling of traffic flow on the boulevard peripherique in Paris, Transport. Res.-A., 24, 345–359 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Papageorgiou M., Some remarks on macroscopic traffic flow modeling, Transport. Res.-A., 32(5), 323–329 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Payne H.J., Models of Freeway Traffic and Control, in Simulation Council Proceedings, 1, 51–61 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Payne H.J., A critical review of a macroscopic freeway model, in Engineering Foundation Conference on Research Directions in Computer Control of Urban Traffic Systems, 251–265 (1979)

  48. Payne H.J., Thompson W.A. and Isaksen L., Design of a trafficresponsive control system for a Los Angeles Freeway, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernatics, SMC-3 213–224 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Pipes L.A., An operational analysis of traffic dynamics, J. Appl. Physics, 24, 274–281 (1953)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  50. Prigogine I. and Herman R., Kinetic theory of vehicular traffic, (Elsevier) (1971)

  51. Prigogine I. and Andrews C.F., A Boltzmann-like approach for traffic flow, Operations Res., 8(6), 789–797 (1960)

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  52. Rajamani R. and Shladover S.E., An Experimental Comparative Study of Autonomous and Cooperative Vehicle-Follower Control Systems, Transportation Research, Part C: Emerging Technologies, 9(1), pp. 15–31 February (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Richards P.I., Shock Waves on the Highway, Operations Res., 42–51 (1956)

  54. Swaroop D., String Stability of Interconnected Systems: An application to platooning in Automated Highway Systems, Ph. D. Dissertation, Department ofMechanical Engineering, U. C. Berkeley, December (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  55. Wagner P., Nagel K. and Wolf D.E., Realistic multi-lane traffic rules for cellular automata, Physica, A234, 687–698 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  56. IVHS America, A Strategic Plan for Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems in the United States, Report No. IVHS-AMER-92-3, May (1992)

  57. David Schrank, Shawn Turner, Timothy Lomax, Trends in Urban Roadway Congestion - 1982 to 1991, Volume 1, TTI Research Report # 1131-6, (1994)

  58. Markowitz J., TravInfo: The San Francisco Bay Area Intermodal traveler information system, In Proc. of Wescon, pp. 339–344 (1993)

  59. Tabor D., Gases, Liquids and Solids: And Other States of Matter, Cambridge University Press (1991)

  60. Rao B.S.Y. and Varaiya P., Potential benefits of roadside intelligence for flow control in IVHS, In Proc. of American Control Conference, pp. 418–422 (1994)

  61. Saxton L. and Schenck C., Diversion and Corridor Control Systems inWestern Europe, In World Survey on Current Research and Development on Roads and Road Transport., International Road Federation, Washington, D.C., pp. 692–723 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  62. Sheikholeslam S. and Desoer C.A., Longitudinal control of a platoon of vehicles, In Proc. of American Control Conference, pp. 291–296, May (1990)

  63. Steven E. Shladover, Review of the State of Development of Advanced Vehicle Control Systems (AVCS), Vehicle System Dynamics, 24, pp. 551–595 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Treyford R.S., Testing Dynamic Advisory Speeds Under Adaptive Signal Control, Australian Road Research, 38(2), pp. 243–255 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  65. Tyagi V., Swaroop Darbha and Rajagopal K.R., Development and corroboration of a non-continuum model of the flow of traffic, in press, Nonlinear Analysis: Hybrid Systems (2007)

  66. Tyagi V., A non-continuum approach to model the flow of traffic, Ph. D. Dissertation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A & M University, February (2007)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Darbha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tyagi, V., Darbha, S. & Rajagopal, K.R. A review of the mathematical models for traffic flow. Int J Adv Eng Sci Appl Math 1, 53–68 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-009-0005-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-009-0005-8

Keywords

Navigation