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Assessing the Influence of Adverse Weather on Traffic Flow Characteristics Using a Driving Simulator and VISSIM

Author

Listed:
  • Chen Chen

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Xiaohua Zhao

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Hao Liu

    (Beijing Transportation Information, Beijing 100161, China)

  • Guichao Ren

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Yunlong Zhang

    (Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Xiaoming Liu

    (Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

Abstract

The occurrence of adverse weather exacerbates traffic flow conditions, often leading to severe traffic congestions. Many studies have been conducted based on field-collected data to obtain the effects of weather on traffic flow characteristics. However, there is a limitation for filed data-based studies, in that weather conditions and traffic conditions are both noncontrollable and nonrepeatable, making it difficult to comprehensively assess the influence of weather conditions, especially the rare extreme weather conditions, on traffic flow characteristics. This paper proposes to assess these effects with the combination of driving simulator and traffic simulation. A driving simulator can collect driving behavior by conducting weather-related driving simulation experiments, while a microscopic traffic simulation program can evaluate the changes in traffic flow characteristics by inputting driving behavior parameters coming from the driving simulator. The proposed method can overcome the limitation of the field data-based approach. In this paper, the structure of the assessment platform is introduced at first. Then a verification experiment is conducted to measure the influences of adverse weather conditions on traffic flow characteristics. The verification experiment results show that the influences of adverse weather on traffic flow characteristics have consistent tendencies with outcomes from previous research and demonstrate that the method is practicable for the analysis of the influence of weather on traffic flow characteristics. This paper provides a practical way to analyze the influence of weather on traffic flow from driving behavior’s point of view.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen Chen & Xiaohua Zhao & Hao Liu & Guichao Ren & Yunlong Zhang & Xiaoming Liu, 2019. "Assessing the Influence of Adverse Weather on Traffic Flow Characteristics Using a Driving Simulator and VISSIM," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:830-:d:203739
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaohua Zhao & Wei Guan & Xiaoming Liu, 2013. "A Pilot Study Verifying How the Curve Information Impacts on the Driver Performance with Cognition Model," Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, Hindawi, vol. 2013, pages 1-8, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bawan Mahmood & Jalil Kianfar, 2019. "Driver Behavior Models for Heavy Vehicles and Passenger Cars at a Work Zone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Jacek Oskarbski & Konrad Biszko, 2022. "Estimation of Vehicle Energy Consumption at Intersections Using Microscopic Traffic Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-35, December.
    3. Maksymilian Mądziel, 2023. "Vehicle Emission Models and Traffic Simulators: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-31, May.
    4. Hassan M. Al-Ahmadi & Arshad Jamal & Imran Reza & Khaled J. Assi & Syed Anees Ahmed, 2019. "Using Microscopic Simulation-Based Analysis to Model Driving Behavior: A Case Study of Khobar-Dammam in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, May.
    5. Marijo Vidas & Vladan Tubić & Ivan Ivanović & Marko Subotić, 2022. "One Approach to Quantifying Rainfall Impact on the Traffic Flow of a Specific Freeway Segment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Maksymilian Mądziel, 2023. "Future Cities Carbon Emission Models: Hybrid Vehicle Emission Modelling for Low-Emission Zones," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Changyin Dong & Hao Wang & Quan Chen & Daiheng Ni & Ye Li, 2019. "Simulation-Based Assessment of Multilane Separate Freeways at Toll Station Area: A Case Study from Huludao Toll Station on Shenshan Freeway," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Guangyang Hou, 2023. "Evaluating Efficiency and Safety of Mixed Traffic with Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in Adverse Weather," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Xiaoyong Ni & Hong Huang & Ruiqi Li & Anying Chen & Yi Liu & Han Xing & Kai Liu & Ming Wang, 2022. "Synergistic Influence of Rainstorm and Waterlogging on Drivers’ Driving Behavior—An Experimental Study Based on High-Fidelity Driving Simulator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.

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