A cellular automaton-based model of ship traffic flow in busy waterways

Abstract

In busy waterways, spatial-temporal discretisation, safe distance and collision avoidance timing are three of the core components of ship traffic flow modelling based on cellular automata. However, these components are difficult to determine in ship traffic simulations because the size, operation and manoeuvrability vary between ships. To solve these problems, a novel traffic flow model is proposed. Firstly, a spatial-temporal discretisation method based on the concept of a standard ship is presented. Secondly, the update rules for ships’ motion are built by considering safe distance and collision avoidance timing, in which ship operation and manoeuvrability are thoroughly considered. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our model, which is implemented through simulating ship traffic flow in a waterway of the Yangtze River, China. By comparing the results with actual observed ship traffic data, our model shows that the behaviours and the characteristics of ships’ motions can be represented very well, which also can be further used to reveal the mechanism that affects the efficiency and safety of ship traffic.

A Multi-Information Dissemination Model Based on Cellular Automata

“…By iteratively applying predefined rules based on the states of neighboring cells, the CA drives the evolution of these systems [29][30][31]. Its versatility spans diverse fields, including image processing [32][33][34] and traffic management [35][36][37], underscoring its profound influence on scientific inquiry and technological innovation.…”

Effect of Dynamic Safety Distance of Heterogeneous Traffic Flows on Ship Traffic Efficiency: A Prediction and Simulation Approach

“…This integration is to encapsulate the influence of environmental determinants on maritime manoeuvres, as delineated in works like Qi et al (2017aQi et al ( , 2017b and Qu and Meng (2012). Given the heightened activity within the approach channels, explorations into the ramifications of lane switching on traffic efficacy have been conducted, evident in studies such as Sun et al (2015), Hu et al (2017), andQi et al (2021). Jiang et al (2019) introduced a sophisticated port waterway traffic simulation model, ingeniously integrating cellular automata with multi-agent systems.…”

‘A novel model blah blah blah’

“…Djani Mohovic (2021) reduces the risk of collision between ships in a close-quarters situation by simulating collision-avoidance actions. Qi et al (2021) developed a cellular automaton-based model for ship traffic flow in busy waterways. For this they first justified the research questions, i.e.…”