Giuseppe Musolino

Safety of Users in Road Evacuation: Supply ad Demand-Supply Interaction Models for Users

This paper presents the results that were obtained in the SICURO research project that was carried out by the Laboratory for Transport Systems Analysis (LAST) of Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (Italy). Microscopic models able to simulate supply and demand-supply interaction of a road transportation system in emergency conditions are described. A microscopic link model (car-following) is specified and calibrated. Parameters are calibrated from data observed during a real simulation of evacuation executed in the test site of Melito Porto Salvo (Italy). A computer application is performed in order to reproduce the evacuation phases observed. Some indicators for testing the performance of a road transportation network in emergency conditions are defined and estimated.

Safety of Users in Road Evacuation: Calibration of Cost Functions And Simulation

This paper on the calibration of cost functions and simulation is from the proceedings of 14th international Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century, which was held in Malta in 2008. This paper is one of five papers that focus on the safety of users in road evacuation. In this paper, the authors present advancements in Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) microscopic models that are used for the simulation of supply and demand-supply interaction of a road transportation system in emergency conditions. These microscopic models are related to link and node models specified in the research project SICURO, carried out by the Laboratory for Transport Systems Analysis (LAST) of the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria in Italy. The models include microscopic link (car-following) and gap-acceptance (rejection) models for non-signalized intersections; the models are calibrated from data observed during a simulation of an evacuation conducted at Melito Porto Salvo, Italy.

Safety of Users in Road Evacuation: Modelling and DSS for Transport Supply and Supply-Demand Interaction

This paper describes how several Decision Support Systems (DSS) implementing transport modeling have been developed in last two decades to support transport planning in ordinary conditions. However, especially since 9/11, great efforts have been made to adapt the existing DSS, on the one hand, and develop dedicated DSS, on the other, to simulate transportation systems in emergency conditions in order to support evacuation planning and/or operative stages. Nowadays, several DSS are available on the market, or have been developed as research prototypes, for the above purpose. In this paper, based upon a comprehensive literature review, a selection of DSS are analyzed and compared according to their ability to support evacuation planning activities. An application is set up to test transport system simulation through a DSS implementing a microscopic Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) model in order to support evacuation planning. The objective is to test the response capabilities of a DSS in supporting the validation of procedures to be undertaken in the event of emergency evacuation. The aim of the work is to provide planners, technicians and agencies with detailed understanding of the potential and shortcomings of modeling and DSS currently available both on the market and in research.

Signal setting design on a road network: application of a system of models in evacuation conditions

This paper presents an application of a system of models and procedures for signal setting design on a road network in evacuation conditions. The system of models, based on a what-to approach, generates signal setting parameters taking into account users behaviour at path choice level. The application has been executed on a real experimental test site with the objectives of validating the system of models and minimizing evacuation times.

A microscopic traffic simulation model for the evaluation of toll station systems

The work focuses on the analysis of mixed toll stations with different toll collection systems. A new microscopic simulation model for the analysis of vehicular flow at a toll plaza system is presented. It is able to represent the traffic demand/supply interaction and the effects on traffic induced by the geometric and functional characteristics of the infrastructure. It allows one to observe situations in which, because of the limited capacity of manual toll gates, queues spill back interfering and reducing electronic toll collection gates capacities. The model can be a useful operational tool for support planning activities of toll plaza systems, in order to reach optimal operational efficiency levels.

Within-day traffic assignment and signal setting in road evacuation: a procedure with explicit path enumeration

This paper discusses the problem of signal setting design of intersections in a road network as an optimization problem subject to equilibrium constraints where travel flows must be consistent with travel times generated by signal setting parameters. The authors propose a framework for signal setting design of road intersections with explicit path enumeration. The framework has two main components: an optimization procedure for signal setting design and a within-day simulation procedure to capture effects of signal setting modification on path choice behavior. This paper describes the elements of the simulation procedure and illustrates some disaggregate results obtained from its application on an experimental test site.

A System of Models for Signal Setting Design of a Signalized Road Network in Evacuation Conditions

Signal control is considered an effective strategy to increase network capacity and to mitigate congestion. This paper will propose a system of models and procedures for the signal setting design of signalized intersections in a road transport network with endogenous estimation of origin-destination path flows. The system of models and procedures is able to support signal setting design for a road transport network both in ordinary and evacuation conditions.

Traffic Assignment Models In Road Evacuation

In this paper a traffic assignment model is specified in road emergency conditions. The proposed model takes into account two classes of users: some users in emergency conditions repeat the same choice made in ordinary conditions, some others make a different choice. The basic concept for the proposed model is derived from day-to-day models. The path choice model, which is inside the traffic assignment model, has to take into account three types of information which influence users’ choices: historical information related to network experience in ordinary conditions, real time information related to the current emergency situation, and users’ forecasting of the network evolution based on current experience. A non-equilibrium dynamic model is adopted in order to simulate path flows on the network. A review of static and dynamic traffic assignment models in emergency conditions is reported.

An Ex-ante Evaluation of Last-mile Freight Distribution Services for City Logistics

The paper deals with methodologies to support an ex-ante assessment of the impacts generated by the introduction of city logistics measures on last-mile freight distribution services. Some models and algorithms are applied and compared to solve the vehicle routing problem for freight deliveries in the town of Reggio Calabria with the introduction of an urban distribution centre and of green freight vehicles. Heuristic routing algorithms are compared in terms of sequence of clients (retailers) visited subject to some constraints given by the presence of UDC and the limited autonomy and capacity of freight vehicles.

A system of models for the assessment of an urban distribution center in a city logistic plan

The ex-ante assessment of the impacts generated by city logistics measures cannot be separated by the use of simulation models able to reproduce the process of distribution of final products. The paper reports the use of urban freight demand models and proposes an aggregate simulation approach to support the ex-ante assessment of a specific distribution service connected to a nodal physical infrastructure, in particular an Urban Distribution Center (UDC). Models have been tested in a town of southern Italy (Reggio Calabria), where a UDC has been planned. The UDC could offer a competitive service to retailers and generate positive impacts on traffic and environment, in order to balance the increasing cost of transhipment for each carrier.