SIR Mathematics Investigation Abstract
TRAFFIC MODELING: THE MECHANICS OF THE DELAY
Presenter:
Daniel T. Wheeler, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506
Advisor:
Dr. Mark Horrell, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506
Mr. Ronald Hurlbut, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506
Abstract:
Unnecessary slowdowns in highway traffic flow occur frequently due to bottlenecks in the progression of vehicles, or simple driver error. Of course, initial disruptions in traffic flow often cause a progression of delays, resulting in a traffic wave that persists for a much longer period of time than the actual cause for delay itself. The goal of this project was to produce a model which would effectively mimic driver behavior, with a simple set of instructions. Various studies of traffic flow were first used to identify the necessary components for effectively reproducing certain traffic situations. Using a spreadsheet program, a model was developed that included numerous variables that determine vehicle behavior, such as driver reaction time, following distance, and situations that cause slowdowns. This model may be used to predict how a typical roadway, with a given number of vehicles and a logic system for determining their behavior, will experience interference in traffic flow. By using this model, it is possible to test the individual effects of each variable, leading to a better understanding of the parameters influencing traffic flow anomalies.