A computer simulation model of traffic operations at roundabouts
A computer simulation model of traffic operations at roundabouts
The research undertaken in this study is concerned with the development of a microscopic, computer simulation model to evaluate different designs of roundabout operating under the offside priority rule. A comprehensive literature review of the research on roundabouts suggested the need for a flexible tool to study roundabout systems. Simulation was adopted as the method of approach. To construct the model systematically, three processes dealing with geometric, traffic and simulation characteristics of the problem were set up. In formulating the simulation model, the interactions of traffic approaching, entering and flowing through the rotary were reproduced by eight behavioural mechanisms, after different possibilities of modelling this behaviour had been explored. Particular emphasis has been given to the calibration and validation stages of the modelling process. Statistical analyses of traffic data obtained from both site surveys and time lapse films enabled the estimation of parameters of the model. Comparisons between predicted results from the calibrated model and observations from fourteen other sites indicate that the model is representing reality adequately. The model was applied to study the Cooper Dean roundabout. Three other geometric alternatives were studied, together with the changes in traffic demand. The effects on throughput and journey times of various flow movements were observed for each design. The study showed that a microscopic simulation model is an appropriate tool to investigate the behaviour of traffic at roundabouts. The proposed model is useful in providing further understanding of roundabout performance. It has the potential of experimenting with future developments of roundabouts at a low cost.
University of Southampton
1983
Chin, Hoong Chor
(1983)
A computer simulation model of traffic operations at roundabouts.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The research undertaken in this study is concerned with the development of a microscopic, computer simulation model to evaluate different designs of roundabout operating under the offside priority rule. A comprehensive literature review of the research on roundabouts suggested the need for a flexible tool to study roundabout systems. Simulation was adopted as the method of approach. To construct the model systematically, three processes dealing with geometric, traffic and simulation characteristics of the problem were set up. In formulating the simulation model, the interactions of traffic approaching, entering and flowing through the rotary were reproduced by eight behavioural mechanisms, after different possibilities of modelling this behaviour had been explored. Particular emphasis has been given to the calibration and validation stages of the modelling process. Statistical analyses of traffic data obtained from both site surveys and time lapse films enabled the estimation of parameters of the model. Comparisons between predicted results from the calibrated model and observations from fourteen other sites indicate that the model is representing reality adequately. The model was applied to study the Cooper Dean roundabout. Three other geometric alternatives were studied, together with the changes in traffic demand. The effects on throughput and journey times of various flow movements were observed for each design. The study showed that a microscopic simulation model is an appropriate tool to investigate the behaviour of traffic at roundabouts. The proposed model is useful in providing further understanding of roundabout performance. It has the potential of experimenting with future developments of roundabouts at a low cost.
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Published date: 1983
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 459351
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/459351
PURE UUID: 6ce2a26a-239b-4b71-b1c1-442044d4654e
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 17:09
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 17:09
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Author:
Hoong Chor Chin
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