Fuzzy System-Based Solutions for Traffic Control in Freeway Networks Toward Sustainable Improvement

Abstract

In the scientific community, the topic of traffic control for promoting sustainable transportation in freeway networks is a relatively new field of research that is becoming increasingly relevant. Sustainability is a critical factor in the design and operation of mobility and traffic systems, which impacts the development of freeway traffic control strategies. According to sustainable notions, freeway traffic controllers should be designed to maximize road capacity, minimize vehicle travel delays, and reduce pollution emissions, accidents, and fuel consumption. The problem is full of uncertainty, there is no way to model the whole system analytically, thus a fuzzy modeling approach seems to be not only adequate but necessary. In this study, a Fuzzy Cognitive Map based model (FCM) and a connected simple Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) are presented, as the tools to analyze freeway traffic data with the goal of traffic flow modeling at a macroscopic level, in order to address congestion-related issues as the core of the sustainability improvement strategies. Besides presenting a framework of Fuzzy system-based controllers in freeway traffic, the results of this work indicated that FIS and FCM are capable of realizing traffic control strategies involving the implementation of ramp management policies, controlling vehicle movement within the freeway by mainstream control, and routing vehicles along alternative paths via the execution of suitable route guidance strategy.