Modeling Link-level Urban Traffic Dynamics based on Corridor Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram

Abstract

An efficient and accurate dynamic network loading technique which can reproduce the congestion propagation within an urban road network is essential for the assessment of traffic management strategies. This paper proposes a link-level traffic flow modeling paradigm based on the corridor macroscopic fundamental diagram (CMFD), which describes the relationship between vehicle accumulation and flow production within an urban corridor. With the traffic dynamics depicted by the CMFD, the model formulation is concise. The adopted trip-based modeling approach also ensures first-in-first-out at intersections for multi-commodity flow in congested conditions with spillback. We evaluate the model performance in scenarios with different corridor layouts and origin-destination compositions. To validate the proposed model, the results are compared with microsimulation outcomes. It is anticipated that the model can be conveniently integrated into the optimization of multi-modal urban road space allocation strategy with corridor-level decisions.