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Mathematical Models for Freely-Flowing Highway Traffic

Author

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  • G. F. Newell

    (Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island)

Abstract

An attempt is made to construct models for the motion of cars on a highway in a manner analogous to the way one treats the motion of molecules in a gas as described by the kinetic theory of gases. In particular the comparison is made between a traffic flow at very low volumes and the motion in a rarefied gas. From this, we are led to expect that even a very crude model of the interaction between individual cars will give a quite reasonable description of the collective behavior of large groups of cars. Some simple estimates of the dependence of average velocity on density and distribution of cars in various lanes of a multilane highway based upon very crude models seem to confirm this expectation. Operations Research , ISSN 0030-364X, was published as Journal of the Operations Research Society of America from 1952 to 1955 under ISSN 0096-3984.

Suggested Citation

  • G. F. Newell, 1955. "Mathematical Models for Freely-Flowing Highway Traffic," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 3(2), pages 176-186, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:oropre:v:3:y:1955:i:2:p:176-186
    DOI: 10.1287/opre.3.2.176
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    Cited by:

    1. Daganzo, Carlos F., 1999. "A Behavioral Theory of Multi-Lane Traffic Flow Part I: Long Homogeneous Freeway Sections," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt8n96n91w, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    2. G. F. Newell, 2002. "Memoirs on Highway Traffic Flow Theory in the 1950s," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 50(1), pages 173-178, February.
    3. Michael Z. F. Li, 2008. "A Generic Characterization of Equilibrium Speed-Flow Curves," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(2), pages 220-235, May.
    4. Daganzo, Carlos F., 2002. "A behavioral theory of multi-lane traffic flow. Part I: Long homogeneous freeway sections," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 131-158, February.

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