The Effects of Different Urban Street Networks on their Ability to Recover from Congestion
Abstract
Five different idealized networks were constructed and evaluated for this thesis using micro simulation. Each network consists of a local street network and an arterial street network, which represent the micro and macro structure of an urban network. It was confirmed that networks are inherently more unstable as they recover from congestion than during its onset, resulting in the formation of hysteresis loops behavior in macroscopic relationships between urban traffic measures. This thesis examines one such relationship - the Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) - and uses the size and shape of these hysteresis loops to explore and quantify the effects of different network patterns on the network’s ability to recover from congested conditions. The patterns produced different MFDs and hysteresis loops of varying shape and size. It can be observed that the spatial distribution of congestion differs between the explored patterns. Networks with a more heterogeneous distribution of congestion were found to lack a well-defined MFD. The amount and placement of arterials and local streets feeding the arterials seemed to create a more heterogeneous traffic distribution for some of the networks than for others. The network structure also influences the number of turning maneuvers, which were found to have a relationship with network performance as well. Fewer turning maneuvers and more through movements at intersections were associated with better network performance, i.e. less hysteresis and greater network productivity. Show more
Publication status
publishedPublisher
IVT, ETH ZürichOrganisational unit
08686 - Gruppe Strassenverkehrstechnik
02226 - NSL - Netzwerk Stadt und Landschaft / NSL - Network City and Landscape
02655 - Netzwerk Stadt u. Landschaft ARCH u BAUG / Network City and Landscape ARCH and BAUG
Notes
Master Thesis Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems (RE & IS).More
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