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Fundamentals of Traffic Flow
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Average Traffic Speed (v)
Average traffic speed refers to the mean speed of all vehicles passing a point during a specified time period. It's a critical factor in travel time reliability and roadway efficiency.
Traffic Flow Rate (Q)
Traffic flow rate is the number of vehicles passing a reference point per unit time. It is essential in assessing roadway performance and capacity planning.
Traffic Density
Traffic density is the number of vehicles occupying a unit length of a roadway at a given moment. It is significant for understanding congestion levels and for designing control measures.
Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)
The Highway Capacity Manual is a publication that provides guidelines for evaluating the capacity and performance of roadways. It is widely used by transportation engineers to plan, design, and operate roadways efficiently.
Car-Following Models
Car-following models describe the behavior of drivers in following other vehicles. They are used to simulate and understand traffic flow, enabling the design of safety measures and improved traffic control systems.
Traffic Impact Studies
Traffic impact studies assess the effects new developments or changes in land use will have on the surrounding transportation network. They inform decision-makers and stakeholders on potential mitigations.
Green Wave
A green wave occurs when traffic signals are coordinated to provide consecutive green lights for a series of intersections, fostering a smooth flow of traffic. It is significant in reducing travel time and stops, improving efficiency and fuel consumption.
Traffic Volume Studies
Traffic volume studies identify the number of vehicles traveling through a certain point over a specific time period, providing insight into road usage patterns, peak hours, and aiding in infrastructure planning and traffic management.
Space Headway
Space headway is the distance between the front of one vehicle and the front of the following vehicle. It is an indicator of road space utilization and congestion levels.
Shockwave
A shockwave in traffic flow is a boundary separating two states of traffic, typically the movement from freely moving traffic to a queued or congested state. It is crucial for incident management and traffic modeling.
Capacity
Capacity refers to the maximum hourly rate at which vehicles can reasonably be expected to traverse a point or uniform segment of a lane or roadway during peak conditions. It informs infrastructure expansion and traffic management.
Traffic Signal Timing
Traffic signal timing involves determining the duration of green, yellow, and red phases at traffic signals, crucial for ensuring a smooth and safe traffic flow, minimizing delays, and balancing traffic demands on intersecting routes.
Dynamic Traffic Assignment
Dynamic traffic assignment models allocate varying traffic demand over a network considering time-dependent travel and congestion. It is used for real-time traffic management and planning to improve network efficiency.
Incident Management
Incident management involves strategies to detect, respond to, and clear traffic incidents quickly and safely. It minimizes traffic disruption and secondary collisions, enhancing overall safety and efficiency on roadways.
Origin-Destination Studies
Origin-destination studies analyze travel patterns by determining where trips start and end, helping to understand traffic demand, route preferences, and guiding transportation planning and policy development.
Traffic Circle or Roundabout
Traffic circles or roundabouts are circular intersections where vehicles travel counterclockwise around a central island, yielding to traffic within the circle. They improve safety by reducing conflict points and can increase intersection capacity.
Pedestrian Crossing Facilities
Pedestrian crossing facilities include infrastructure such as crosswalks, signals, and overpasses that ensure safe pedestrian movement across roadways. They are essential for reducing accidents and promoting walkability.
Traffic Control Devices
Traffic control devices include signs, signals, and markings that guide, warn, and regulate traffic. They are critical for providing clear and consistent instructions to roadway users, ensuring safe and efficient travel.
Level of Service (LOS)
Level of Service is a qualitative measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream, and its perception by motorists and passengers. It ranges from A (best) to F (worst) and informs roadway design and traffic management strategies.
Saturation Flow Rate
Saturation flow rate is the maximum flow rate that can be accommodated by a lane or intersection during a green light, without being affected by the arrival of the next platoon of vehicles. It's essential for traffic signal design and timing.
Traffic Safety Analysis
Traffic safety analysis assesses risk and identifies factors contributing to traffic crashes. It is vital for developing targeted interventions, policies, and roadway designs to reduce accidents and enhance overall road safety.
Time Headway
Time headway is the time interval between the front of one vehicle passing a point and the front of the following vehicle doing the same. It influences traffic capacity and safety policies.
Multimodal Traffic Analysis
Multimodal traffic analysis considers various transportation modes (e.g., vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians) and their interactions within the traffic system. It is used to create balanced and efficient transportation networks.
Travel Time Studies
Travel time studies measure how long it takes to travel between two points under current traffic conditions. These studies are key for evaluating system performance, planning routes, and informing traveler information systems.
Traffic Calming
Traffic calming involves design and management strategies that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users. It enhances safety and encourages pedestrian-friendly environments.
Gap Acceptance
Gap acceptance is the process by which a driver assesses the size of a gap in a traffic stream that allows for a safe maneuver, such as a turn or lane change. It's important for traffic engineering and designing intersections.
Travel Demand Modeling
Travel demand modeling predicts transportation system usage in different scenarios. It assesses how changes to the network, policies, or population can affect travel behavior, helping in long-term transportation planning.
Traffic Stream Characteristics
Traffic stream characteristics involve the composite factors of traffic flow, including speed, flow, and density, which are used to describe the overall conditions on a roadway. Understanding these characteristics aids in modeling and traffic simulations.
Queueing Theory
Queueing theory is the study of queues or waiting lines, applied to traffic analysis to study the behavior of queues at intersections, toll booths, or other bottlenecks. It helps to design efficient traffic control and management systems.
Bottlenecks
Bottlenecks in traffic flow occur where the roadway capacity is reduced due to physical roadway conditions or traffic incidents. They are crucial for analyzing and alleviating congestion points in a traffic network.
Modal Split
Modal split refers to the percentage distribution of how many people use different modes of transportation (e.g., car, public transit, walking, cycling) over a specific area. It guides policy and investment decisions in transportation infrastructure.
Vehicle Classification Studies
Vehicle classification studies identify the types of vehicles using a roadway and their respective proportions, crucial for pavement design, maintenance planning, and environmental impact assessments.
Transportation Network Companies (TNCs)
Transportation Network Companies provide ride-sharing services via digital platforms connecting passengers with drivers. The proliferation of TNCs has impacted traffic patterns, congestion, and urban mobility policy.
Driver Behavior Studies
Driver behavior studies examine how individual drivers react to various traffic conditions, roadway designs, and control devices. The outcomes are used to develop safer and more efficient transportation systems.
Speed Studies
Speed studies collect data on how fast vehicles are traveling along a roadway or in a network. The results guide speed management practices, roadway design, and traffic law enforcement strategies.
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