This work focuses on modeling vehicle acceleration-deceleration behavior during freeway and ramp merging maneuvers under congested traffic situation. Sets of data capturing a wide range of information were collected using a videotape and image processing techniques. Comprehensive traffic surveys were conducted at two entrance ramps in the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway. These data provided the fundamental information for investigating the ramp driver merging behavior. A theoretical framework for modeling ramp driver acceleration-deceleration behavior is presented. It uses the stimuli-response concept as a basic rule and is formulated as a modified form of the conventional car-following models. The collected data are used to calibrate the proposed model. The results indicate that on average 0.66 sec time gap exist before ramp drivers respond to stimuli. It is found that the surrounding freeway vehicles affect significantly the ramp vehicle acceleration behavior. The simulated time-space trajectories of vehicles consistently fit well the observed data. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract No. E208120.
Samenvatting