Traffic Flow Theory

CIEN 4122 -Traffic Engineering

Cruz, Alleli P.
Figueroa, Benjamin E.
San Juan, Apple J.
 Introduction
Traffic flow theory involves the development
of mathematical relationships among the
primary elements of a traffic stream:
Flow
Density
Speed
These relationships help traffic engineer in
planning, designing, and evaluating the
effectiveness of implementing traffic
engineering measures on a highway system.
Time-Space Diagram
 Applications of Traffic Flow Theory

Traffic flow theory is used in design to determine:

Adequate lane length for storing left-turn vehicles on
separate left-turn lanes.
Average delay at intersections.

Traffic flow theory is used in simulation:

Mathematical algorithms are used to study the
complex interrelationship between elements of traffic
stream.
Estimate the effect of changes in traffic flow on factors
such as accidents, travel time, air pollution, and
gasoline consumption.
 Traffic Flow Elements

Primary elements : FLOW, DENSITY, &

SPEED.
 Traffic Flow Elements Definitions
Flow (q) : the equivalent hourly rate at which
vehicles pass a point on a highway during a time
period less than 1 hour.
q = [(n x 3600)/T] veh/h

n = number of vehicles passing a point in the roadway in (T) seconds.

Density (k) : ,also referred to as concentration,

number of vehicles traveling over a unit length
(usually one mile) of highway at an instant in time.
Unit of density is (vehicle/mi)
 Traffic Flow Elements Definitions
Cont.
Speed (u) : the distance traveled by
a vehicle during a unit of time (mi/h)
or (km/h) or (ft/sec),
The speed of a vehicle at any time (t)
is the slope of the time-space
diagram for that vehicle at time (t).
Two types of mean speed:
Time mean speed
Space mean speed
 Traffic Flow Elements Definitions
Cont.
Time Mean Speed (t) :the
arithmetic mean of the speeds of
vehicles passing a point on a
highway.
t = [(1/n) (Sum (ui)) ] . i = 1 to n
n= number of vehicles passing a point
on a highway.
ui = speed of the ith vehicle (ft/sec)
 Traffic Flow Elements Definitions

Space Mean Speed (s) :the harmonic mean of the

speeds of vehicles passing a point on a highway during an
interval of time.
Space mean speed is the one involved in flow-density
relationship.

s = [n/ (Sum (1/ui)) ] . i = 1 to n

n= number of vehicles passing a point on a highway.

ui = speed of the ith vehicle (ft/sec).
ti = the time it takes the ith vehicle to travel a cross a section
of highway (sec).
L= length of section of highway (ft).
 Traffic Flow Elements Definitions
Cont.

The time mean speed is always

higher than the space mean speed.
The difference between these speeds
tends to decrease as the absolute
values of speeds increase.
 Traffic Flow Elements Definitions
Cont.
Time Headway (h): is the difference
between the time the front of a vehicle
arrives at a point on the highway and the
time the front of the next vehicle arrives at
that same point, expressed in (seconds)..
Can be found from time-space diagram at
specified distance.
Space Headway (d): is the distance
between the front of a vehicle and the front
of the following vehicle, expressed in (feet).
Can be found from time-space diagram at
specified time (t).
 Flow-Density Relationships
The general equation relating flow, density,
and space mean speed is given as:
Flow = density x space mean speed
q= k s
Each of variable depends on several other
factors, including:
Characteristics of the roadway.
Characteristics of the vehicle
Characteristics of the driver
Environmental factors (e.g. weather)
 Flow-Density Relationships Cont.
Other relationships exist among traffic flow variables:

Space mean speed = (flow) x (average space headway)

s = q
Density = (flow) x (average travel time for unit distance)
K= q
Average space headway = (space mean speed) x
(average time headway)
= s
Average time headway = (average travel time for unit
distance) x (average space headway)
=
Fundamental Diagram of Traffic
Flow
Flow vs. Density
When there are no vehicles on the highway, the
density is zero and flow is also zero.
As density increases flow also increases.
When density reaches maximum, the flow must be
zero because vehicles will tend to line up end to end.
It follows that as density increases from zero, the flow
will also initially increase from zero to a max. value.
Further continuous increase in density will then result
in continuous reduction of flow, which will be zero
when density is equal to the jam density.
Some controversies exist regarding the exact shape of
the curve.
 Fundamental Diagram of Traffic
Flow Cont.
Space Mean Speed vs. Flow:

When flow is very low, there is little interaction between vehicles,

therefore drivers are free to travel at max possible speed.
The absolute max speed is obtained as the flow tends to zero
(Mean Free Speed uf ).
Magnitude of (uf) depends on the physical characteristics
of the highway.
Continuous increase in flow will result in a continuous
decrease in speed.
A point will be reached when further addition of vehicles
will result in the reduction in the actual number of
vehicles that pass a point on the highway (reduction of
flow).
At this point congestion is reached and eventually both
speed and flow become zero.
 Fundamental Diagram of Traffic
Flow Cont.
Space Mean Speed vs. Density:

When there are no vehicles on the highway,

the density is zero.
When density is zero there will be little or no
interaction between vehicles, therefore drivers are
free to travel at max possible speed.
Further continuous increase in density will
then result in continuous reduction of
speed, which will be zero when density is
equal to the jam density