Influence Of Information Provision On Traffic System Efficiency

With the development of information technology, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) becomes a new way to improve the traffic management and alleviate the congestion. As the important part of ITS, Advanced Traveler Information System provides travelers traffic information to influence their travel decisions thus reach the goal of better traffic management. In actual traffic network, influence of information on traffic system is a complex dynamic process, which changes traffic flow by influencing travelers’route choices. Thus, analyzing influence of information on travelers’route choice behavior is the basis to research the influence of information on traffic system efficiency.Firstly, travelers’route choice process is analyzed according to day-to-day dynamic theory. Besides, learning and update process of travel time with information provision is illuminated, which is the core of day-to-day dynamic route choice model.Secondly, different perceived travel time models are developed in 3 situations:travelers without information, with historical information and with forecast information. The whole process of route choice/decision and flow assignment is described, and the system efficiency evaluation model is also presented.Finally, a simple road network is given as an example. The day-to-day dynamic route choice models are used to assign traffic flow under different parameter settings, considering three levels of information provision:no, part and complete. The results show that the influence of information on traffic system efficiency is related to the randomness of travelers’route choices and people’s reliance on information; the historical information has no, even negative effect on improving system efficiency, but sometimes it can accelerate the system’s convergence speed; the forecast information can change traffic flow distribution and improve system efficiency, but it may lead to system fluctuation if travelers over-rely on such information; in some special cases, providing part information can get comparable or even better system efficiency as complete information. The research results can provide a reference for traffic information provision optimization and help to establish a better management of current serious traffic situations.