Complex Traffic Network Modeling & Area-wide Hierarchical Control

Complex Traffic Network Modeling & Area-wide Hierarchical Control by Saumya Gupta 〈Dr. Pushkin Kachroo〉, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department University of Nevada, Las Vegas In this thesis, we present a novel methodology to divide a traffic region into subregions such that in each subregion a Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) can be utilized to determine the state of that subregion. The region division is based on the theory of complex networks. We exploit the inherent network characteristics through PageRank centrality algorithm to identify the most significant nodes in the traffic network. We use these significant nodes as the seeds for a Voronoi diagram based partitioning mechanism of the network. A network wide hierarchical control framework is then presented which controls these sub regions individually and the network as a whole. At the subregion level a feedback controller is designed based on MFD concept. At the network level we develop a dynamic toll pricing algorithm to control the inflows into the network. This dynamic toll pricing is coupled with the subregion controller and thus forming a network wide hierarchical control. We use optimal control theory to design the dynamic toll pricing. A cost function is designed iii and then using Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation, we derive an optimal control law that uses real-time information. The objective of the dynamic toll algorithm is to strike a balance between the toll price and optimal traffic conditions in each of the subregions. A case study is performed for the Manhattan area in New York city and results are provided through simulations.