A two-dimensional multi-class traffic flow model

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel two-dimensional multi-class traffic flow model that extends previous single-class models, incorporating multiple vehicle types, and validates it through numerical tests and real data calibration.

Contribution

It develops a coupled multi-class 2D conservation law model for traffic flow, extending prior single-class models and providing numerical schemes and real-world calibration.

Findings

The model accurately fits real vehicle trajectory data.

Numerical tests confirm the model's ability to simulate traffic dynamics.

The model successfully reproduces overtaking maneuvers.

Abstract

The aim of this work is to introduce a two-dimensional macroscopic traffic model for multiple populations of vehicles. Starting from the paper [20], where a two-dimensional model for a single class of vehicles is proposed, we extend the dynamics to a multi-class model leading to a coupled system of conservation laws in two space dimensions. Besides the study of the Riemann problems we also present a Lax-Friedrichs type discretization scheme recovering the theoretical results by means of numerical tests. We calibrate the multi-class model with real data and compare the fitted model to the real trajectories. Finally, we test the ability of the model to simulate the overtaking of vehicles.