• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.4D
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• pp.443-450
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• 2009

Uninterrupted facility - since there is a close relationship between traffic volume, speed and density -, when a ramp traffic flow merges into the main line, will change the traffic speed or density, and the corresponding correlational model equation will be changed. Thus, this study, using time and space-series traffic data on areas under the influence of such a merging, identified sections which changed the correlation between speed and density variables, and examined such changes. As a result, the upstream and merging sections showed the "Underwood"-shaped exponent, and the downstream after passing the merging section showed a straight line "Greenshields" model. The downstream section which changed the correlation between speed and density showed a gradual downstream movement phenomenon within 100 m-500 m from the end of the third lane linking with the ramp, as the traffic approached the inner lanes. Also, the upstream section, merging section, and downstream section involving a change showed heterogeneous traffic flows which, in the speed-density model, have a statistically different free flow speed (constant) and a different ratio of free flow speed to jam density (gradient).

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.97-114
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• 2022

Unlike ground roads, the on-ramp merging section of underground roads cannot be seen by drivers of main road due to tunnels. In this study, a driving simulator was used for analysis, and virtual driving experiments were carried out to assess the driver's visibility for different design factors. The driver's driving behavior was analyzed by setting scenarios considering the length of chevron markings and the approach speed from the main road. The results of the analysis were used to determine the design factors for ensuring visibility when constructing the virtual driving environment for each scenario. These factors, including speed, lane change points, and driver's gaze ratios, were reviewed for significance using a statistical approach. As a result, in scenarios with a higher approach speed from the main road, it was discovered that there was a difference in driver's behavior between specific scenarios depending on the length of the section with chevron markings. Based on these findings, this study suggests implications and feasible solutions to improve driver safety on the on-ramp merging section of underground roads.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-31
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• 1988

In this research, the behavior of weaving traffic is studied in terms of lane-changing behavior and gap acceptance characteristics. General trends in lane-changing behavior and gap acceptance characteristics are investigated by analyzing descriptive statistics and the factors affecting weaving behavior are determined by means of the multiple linear regression analysis. The results of analysis show that the behavior of weaving traffic is generally similar to that in a basic freeway section and an on- or of- ramp section. Traffic density and speed appear to be better parameters than traffic volume for explaining the behavior of weaving traffic. For the same purpose, using the traffic conditions of the origin and the destination lanes are found to be more effective than using the average traffic conditions of the freeway. A detailed analysis of the gap acceptance characteristics of late merging vehicles shows that there is no significant difference between the size of gaps accepted by late merging vehicles and that accepted by early merging vehicles.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.23 no.5 s.83
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• pp.169-176
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• 2005

This paper introduces the dynamic control of acceleration lanes at freeway-ramp junctions. The feasibility of operation with flexible length of acceleration lane was tested with most possible traffic conditions. The operational qualify was also evaluated using average speed and total thru-put at both ramp section and freeway section. A CORSIM microscopic simulation model was used to evaluate the operation quality with a variety or volume conditions and three acceleration lanes, each representing different length categories. In addition, tollgate O-D data including travel times were obtained for two sections on the Gyeong-bu Freeway where an effective merging distance has been largely reduced. Its effect was analyzed and compared to the simulation results. Finally, the effects of acceleration lane are discussed and operational improvement at junctions is presented as research findings.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.221-227
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• 2008

This study identifies the relationship between traffic data quality obtained from loop detectors and their location. Traffic data basically shows traffic flow conditions and thus, these information can be used as inputs for various transportation management strategies. Out study presents how to determine optimal downstream detector location on merging area in order to enhance the effects of ramp metering strategies. Microscopic simulation model, PARAMICS, is used as the main analytical tool. Assuming that detector location relies heavily on traffic flow characteristics in each roadway segment, we perform statistical analysis to identify homogeneous traffic conditions on merging area.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 2009

Sections under the influence of merging in an uninterrupted facility create irregular interaction between vehicles, such as lane change, speed acceleration and deceleration because of the merging of ramp traffic flows which have traffic characteristics different from those of the main line. This causes a confused traffic flow phenomenon(turbulence), which is considered an unstable traffic characteristic between various continuous points in consideration of v conditions. In this study, in merge influence sections, detectors by lane-point were installed to create time and space-series -traffic data. The least significant difference(LSD), as the criteria for discriminating a significant speed change between points, was calculated to examine the turbulence. As a result, turbulence in merge influence section was found to change the zones of such occurrence and the seriousness levels according to traffic condition. Thus, the maximum merge influence section due to the turbulence was created in the traffic condition before congestion when traffic increases. According to characteristics of changes in speed, merge influence section was divided into upstream 100m$\sim$downstream 100m(a section of speed reduction), and downstream 100m$\sim$downstream 400m(a section of reduced speed maintenance and acceleration).

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.195-205
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• 2001

The objective of the paper is to analyze the traffic characteristics for freeway merging area. Freeway merging area is different from basic section due to ramp vehicles. Therefore, to understand the traffic characteristics of (leeway merging area, this study focused on two factors including critical time headway required in merging maneuver and maximum possible merging volume. In this paper, new model that adopts critical time headway instead of critical time gap in calculating the maximum possible merging volume based on probability function was developed In previous studies, for calculating the maximum possible merging volume, it was considered that merging vehicles could merge freely if a given time gap was greater than the critical time gap. Also, the critical time gap was used as the same value in all traffic flow conditions. But, a time gap required in merging maneuver could be changed, even to the same driver, because difference of relative speed varies in different traffic flow conditions. So, in some cases, the critical time gap could be insufficient value in merging maneuver. Therefore, in this study. a calculating procedure for critical time headway in all traffic flow conditions was presented. Also, the maximum possible merging volume and capacity for freeway merging area were calculated by using the previously found critical time headway.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.115-126
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• 2009

The lane-change behavior usually consists of discretionary lane-change and mandatory lane-change types. For the first type, drivers change lanes selectively to maintain their own driving condition and the second type is the case that the drivers must change the current lane, which can occur in recurrent congestion sections like merging and weaving sections. The mandatory lane-change behavior have a great effect on the operation condition of freeway. In this paper, we first generate data such as traffic volumes, speeds, densities, and the number of lane-change within the merging and weaving sections using the data of individual vehicle collected from time-lapse aerial photography. And then, the data is divided into the stable and congested flow by analyzing the speed variation pattern of individual vehicles. In addition, the number of lane-changing from ramp to mainline within every 30-meter interval is investigated before and after traffic congestion at study sites and the distribution of lane-changing at each 30-meter point is analyzed to identify the variation of lane-changing ratio depending on the stable and congested flows. To recognize the effect of mainline flow influenced by ramp flow, this study also analyzes the characteristics of the lane-changing distributions within the lanes of mainline. The purpose of this paper is to present the basic theory to be used in developing a lane-changing model at the merging and weaving sections on freeways.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.2D
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• pp.167-173
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• 2009

In general, an influenced area of merging section is defined as 500 m including 100 m upstream and 400 m downstream. However, from an observation of the actual traffic flow, it is found that merging effect influences more on downstream than upstream. In this study, an influenced area of merging section on freeway is analyzed by using turbulence which is defined as conflicts between vehicles. In order to overcome the limits of existing traffic flow detection system established with intervals of about 500 m, this study uses raw data collected from the detectors which are established in entrance ramps with similar road conditions. To divide data of each point into similar road conditions, the data of total 72 hours is sorted by Level of Service. An influenced area analyzed by standard deviation of speed is 700 m section of highway, including 300 m upstream and 400 m downstream, for both right and left ramps. It is the result including upstream 200 m more than previous studies.