SAEFLOW- SAfety and EFficiency analysis of High Capacity Transport Traffic FLOW indicators

Purpose and goal

This project proposes algorithmic tools and methods to assess HCT traffic safety and efficiency in macroscopic flow context. Instead of focusing on a single HCT vehicle, we aim at analysing traffic flow attributes with different HCT combinations/penetration level/road condition. HCT immersion in real traffic changes the dynamic variables of traffic flow (mean speed, density, volume, etc). On the basis of these flow quantities, this project suggests novel methods to conclude HCT safety and efficiency.

Expected results and effects

The main findings of the (simulation based) research are the followings: -critical density increases with longer vehicle combination -the capacity of the road segment is decreasing -changes are significant around the critical density point -emission and fuel consumption are reduced for the HCT emerged traffic flow -HCT crash risk is predicted from Swedish accident statistics by means of lenght-based extrapolation. -real-time crash prediction models have been used to asses HCT flow safety

Planned approach and implementation

The project has the following setup 1. Derivation of macroscopic safety (crash potential, accident rate risk) and efficiency indicators (congestion/fuel and energy consumption) for HCT 2. Analysis of the derived HCT flow metrics (e.g. different HCT combinations, implication on legislation) 3. High fidelity simulation based case studies Results are unique in the sense of understanding the impacts of HCT on infrastructure, traffic efficiency and safety.