Understanding congestion propagation by combining percolation theory with the macroscopic fundamental diagram


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Date

2023-02-01

Publication Type

Journal Article

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yes

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Abstract

The science of cities aims to model urban phenomena as aggregate properties that are functions of a system’s variables. Following this line of research, this study seeks to combine two well-known approaches in network and transportation science: (i) The macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD), which examines the characteristics of urban traffic flow at the network level, including the relationship between flow, density, and speed. (ii) Percolation theory, which investigates the topological and dynamical aspects of complex networks, including traffic networks. Combining these two approaches, we find that the maximum number of congested clusters and the maximum MFD flow occur at the same moment, precluding network percolation (i.e. traffic collapse). These insights describe the transition of the average network flow from the uncongested phase to the congested phase in parallel with the percolation transition from sporadic congested links to a large, congested cluster of links. These results can help to better understand network resilience and the mechanisms behind the propagation of traffic congestion and the resulting traffic collapse.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Volume

6

Pages / Article No.

26

Publisher

Springer

Event

Edition / version

Methods

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Geographic location

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Date created

Subject

Physics; Statistical physics, thermodynamicsa and nonlinear dynamics

Organisational unit

08686 - Gruppe Strassenverkehrstechnik check_circle
02655 - Netzwerk Stadt u. Landschaft ARCH u BAUG / Network City and Landscape ARCH and BAUG

Notes

Suported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (P1EZP2_181656).

Funding

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