A LOW COST TOOL FOR FREEWAY RAMP METERING

M. Papageorgiou 1), H. Haj-Salem2)

1) Dynamic Systems and Simulation Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, 73100-Chania, Greece
2) INRETS-DART, 2 av. du Gl. Malleret Joinville, 94114 Arcueil, France.

Abstract

Local, traffic-responsive ramp metering is a wellknown control measure aiming at ameliorating traffic conditions on interurban or metropolitan freeways and motorways. A particular control strategy (ALINEA), the only local ramp metering strategy to be based on rigorous application of classical regulator theory, is presented, along with a low cost implementation concept. Field application of ALINEA and evaluation of its performance in France and The Netherlands confirm its clear superiority as compared to other popular approaches.

Keywords: Closed-loop control; control equipment; disturbance rejection; implementation; integral control; ramp metering; sample-data control; traffic control.