The Effectiveness of using Variable Speed Limit on the Performance of an Interrupted Flow

This paper presents the development and calibration of a simulation model for interrupted traffic flow condition on a Brisbane urban arterial road with signalised intersections. VISSIM software was used to develop the model using the actual data collected by the Brisbane traffic control system and from the field observations. The model developments focus on key elements and concepts to incorporate the road network and lane configuration features, available signal timing and coordination, and vehicle and driver behaviour characteristics. The notable difficult task in the process was the calibration of actual saturation flow rate at each intersection to represent actual conditions. Statistical tests have been used to identify the required number of simulation runs and subsequently to validate the results. The results revealed that model is compatible with field data measurements. The results demonstrate that a model for simulating interrupted traffic flow conditions is possible with actual data and reasonable calibration and validation efforts. This study's considerable efforts to develop the model were devoted to investigate the effect of future ITS applications to urban arterial roads.