Analysis of the Impact of Variable Speed Limits on Environmental Sustainability and Traffic Performance in Urban Networks

Bassel Othman (1) , Giovanni De Nunzio (1) , Domenico Di Domenico (2) , Carlos Canudas de Wit (3)

1 IFPEN - IFP Energies nouvelles
2 TotalEnergies
3 DANCE - Dynamics and Control of Networks

This work focuses on evaluating the potential of variable speed limits (VSLs) in a synthetic urban network to improve both environmental sustainability and traffic performance. The traffic system is modeled using the microscopic traffic simulator SUMO, and a physical fuel consumption and NOx emission model is used to assess the vehicles' energy efficiency. Speed limits are controlled through a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) approach, in which the traffic evolution and fuel consumption are respectively predicted with a macroscopic traffic model, namely the cell transmission model (CTM), and a pre-calibrated artificial neural network (ANN). The results reveal that in transient phases between different levels of congestion, the proposed eco-VSL controller is faster to decongest the network, resulting in an improvement of the environmental sustainability and the traffic performance both in the controlled network, and at its boundary roads.

Mots clés: Variable Speed Limits; Energy efficiency; Pollutant emissions; Traffic modeling; Model Predictive Control; Artificial Neural Networks

Domaines: Optimisation et contrôle [math.OC]

Bassel Othman, Giovanni De Nunzio, Domenico Di Domenico, Carlos Canudas de Wit. Analysis of the Impact of Variable Speed Limits on Environmental Sustainability and Traffic Performance in Urban Networks. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2022, 23 (11), pp.1-11. ⟨10.1109/TITS.2022.3192129⟩. ⟨hal-03748021⟩