Abstract:In this paper, we study various distribution schemes for determining flows through a merge in the supply-demand framework. Upon a thorough analysis of existing schemes, we propose a simple distribution scheme that satisfies the "fairness" condition, in which the flow from an upstream link is proportional to its traffic demand. We demonstrate that this scheme can capture characteristics of a merge, such as characteristic difference between upstream links, capacity of each link, and control of an on-ramp. Moreover, this scheme leads to a merge model that is computationally efficient and easy to calibrate. Wave solutions of a general Riemann problem will be of interest in future studies.Keywords: The kinematic wave traffic flow models, the discrete merge model, traffic demand, traffic supply, the supply-demand method, the distribution scheme, the "fairness" condition.
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