Traffic Volume Determination System Using Statistical Proportions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traffic volume determination systems struggle to accurately assess whether a road is closed to vehicles, as routine zero traffic conditions can be misinterpreted, and variations in traffic volume are influenced by local events and time-specific factors.
Innovation Solution
A traffic volume determination system that calculates an estimated traffic volume for an exit link by referencing a statistical table of vehicle proportions from entry links, determining the exit link as closed if the actual traffic volume falls below the estimated value, accounting for variations and exceptional fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traffic volume is determined solely by actual probe data counts, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish routine zero traffic from actual road closure
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores statistical proportions of vehicles flowing into exit links from entry links during normal operation periods. These statistical parameters are prepared in advance and stored in a table, enabling rapid and accurate closure detection without complex real-time calculations when actual closure events occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces statistical proportion parameters as intermediary variables between actual traffic volume measurements and closure determination. By comparing actual traffic volume against expected values derived from statistical proportions, the system accurately distinguishes between routine zero traffic and actual road closure events.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traffic volume thresholds are set fixed, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to account for time-specific and event-specific traffic variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts traffic volume expectations by incorporating statistical proportions that reflect varying traffic patterns across different times, days, and events. Rather than using fixed thresholds, the system adjusts expected traffic volumes based on historical statistical data, enabling accurate closure detection throughout the year including weekends and holidays.
3Reliability
If road closure determination relies on zero traffic volume alone, then productivity is improved through rapid assessment, but reliability deteriorates due to false positives from routine zero traffic periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pre-computed statistical proportions as feedback parameters to validate whether observed zero or low traffic volumes represent actual closures or normal patterns. By continuously comparing actual traffic against statistically expected values, the system reliably distinguishes true closures from routine zero-traffic periods while maintaining rapid detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A traffic volume determination system includes a table configured to store information indicating a statistical proportion of vehicles flowing into an exit link exiting from a node, among vehicles traveling on an entry link entering the node; an estimation unit configured to calculate an estimated value of a traffic volume of vehicles traveling on the exit link from an actual traffic volume of the vehicles traveling on the entry link, with reference to the table; and a determination unit configured to determine that the exit link is closed when the actual traffic volume of the vehicles traveling on the exit link is smaller than the estimated value.