Dynamic traffic management (DTM) has long been a way of improving traffic flow on the highway network. In recent years both provincial and local authorities have increasingly used DTM whereby liveability and safety are equally as important as traffic flow. Balancing these three aspects is a complex matter, so TNO has developed dynamic emission and noise models that can be coupled to traffic models. Static models only provide averages over a certain period but municipalities are looking for much more accurate data for the effective management of traffic flow. Dynamic models allow the movement of traffic, and how it moves, to be identified precisely at any given moment. TNO has also produced a decision support tool to help make the right choices. This weighs up the most effective scenario, allowing priorities to be set, such as air quality being more important than traffic flow.

Overall balance

In the pilot project with The Hague, the municipality supplies data from a number of traffic control units to the TNO pilot network. These data are incorporated into the traffic model to produce a picture of the actual traffic pattern as well as into the emission model and noise model so that a clear picture emerges at that moment of the situation in respect of all three aspects. Then various traffic flow intervention scenarios are calculated in terms of their effect on traffic, emissions and noise. These three aspects are therefore incorporated in determining the best scenario and so an overall balanced can be achieved. ‘The model study currently provides insight into bottlenecks but ultimately this method will be used to manage traffic differently at any given moment. In other words, the rapid calculation of traffic readings to adjust traffic light operation or to reveal modified route information on road information panels,’ says TNO expert Tanja Vonk.

Supplementary technologies

TNO is also investigating whether other technologies and applications can supplement the deployment of dynamic traffic management, like new forms of wireless communication between cars and between cars and sensors in and alongside the road. In these in-car systems there is real-time information exchange between the car and the traffic system. TNO has also developed a platform for mobile applications to, for example, predict travel time. TNO’s prototype traffic jam alarm app gathers information from travellers and warns if the scheduled journey is likely to take longer due to unforeseen circumstances.

You are most welcome to attend the presentation “In-car Dynamic Traffic Management for Metropolitan areas” by TNO expert Tanja Vonk and to enter into discussion with her.

Tuesday 27 March, 15.00 - 16.00
Smart Mobility Knowledge Centre, Seminar room 1