Description

Complex road intersections, such as large-scale motorway intersections or large roundabouts manage traffic in particular ways either through traffic control systems, e.g. traffic lights, or through lane merging or right-before-left rules. Depending on the layout and traffic flows in and out of these complex road structures, long delays can occur for drivers joining the intersection from different sides. This project will model a complex road intersection or roundabout and simulate traffic flow. The target is the Dunkettle Interchange. The latter has recently seen major changes to the road layout to avoid traffic light control to improve delays. However, it appears that depending on traffic volume, long delays and queues still occur for certain inflows into the intersection. The project's aim is analyse using a computer simulation model to study the behaviour of traffic flow for a complex intersection such as Dunkettle and to investigate how delays occur and what traffic control or traffic flow management strategies may be devised to alleviate delays. The project will use the open source SUMO mobility simulator to implement a model of the intersection/roundabout and to study and analyse the traffic flows.

This project suits a student who is interested in analysing real-world problems and systems with computer simulation.

Objectives

• review the state of the art in traffic management at complex road intersections
• implement a model of the Dunkettle interchange in SUMO
• simulate traffic flows using SUMO
• analyse traffic flow and identify the level of traffic volume and how it leads to longer delays
• implement traffic flow management algorithms in SUMO and compare their performance in terms of throughput and delay

Deliverables

• state of the art review
• SUMO implementation
• specification of flow control algorithm(s)
• simulation based analysis and evaluation of algorithm(s)