The effectiveness of incident management on network reliability – Stage 2

Type of content
Reports
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. Civil and Natural Resources Engineering
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2014
Authors
McMillan, S.
Nicholson, A.
Koorey, Glen
Abstract

This research investigated how ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) measures), such as adaptive signal control (e.g. SCATS®) and Variable Message Signing (VMS), can be used to improve the transport network efficiency during traffic incidents. Following a literature review, a motorway and arterial road traffic network was modelled to determine the most appropriate traffic management strategies (in terms of overall network reliability) to apply when such incidents are detected.

For a motorway blockage scenario, the chosen mitigation (implementing VMS and allowing use of the motorway hard-shoulder) was estimated to produce a 20% reduction in average trip times, although on some selected diversion routes the estimated effect was less than 7%. The reduction in the standard deviation of trip times was much larger (~80%). For an arterial road lane closure, the chosen mitigation (revising the SCATS® management plan) was estimated to produce quite small improvements in average travel times (less than 2%). The estimated effect on various diversion routes varied considerably up and down.

For a large complex network, it may be necessary to have a large number of incident management plans, to cover the range of incident scenarios that might occur. A ‘template’ process is proposed for identifying the most significant risks to a network, comparing the treatment options, and developing suitable contingency management plans.

Description
Citation
Koorey G., McMillan S., Nicholson A. (2014) The effectiveness of incident management on network reliability – Stage 2. NZ Transport Agency research report LTR-118. 55pp..
Keywords
intelligent transport systems, traffic congestion, incidents, traffic management
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Fields of Research::40 - Engineering::4005 - Civil engineering::400512 - Transport engineering
Field of Research::12 - Built Environment and Design::1205 - Urban and Regional Planning::120506 - Transport Planning
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