Particle Hopping Models and Traffic Flow Theory

Kai Nagel

Working Papers from Santa Fe Institute

Abstract: This paper shows how particle hopping models fit into the context of traffic flow theory, that is, it shows connections between fluid-dynamical traffic flow models, which derive from the Navier-Stokes-equation, and particle hopping models. In some cases, these connections are exact and have long been established, but have never been viewed in the context of traffic theory. In other cases, critical behavior of traffic jam clusters can be compared to instabilities in the partial differential equations. Finally, it is shown how all this leads to a consistent picture of traffic jam dynamics.---In consequence, this paper starts building a foundation of a comprehensive dynamic traffic theory, where strengths and weaknesses of different models (fluid-dynamical, car- following, particle hopping) can be compared, and thus allowing to systematically choose the appropriate model for a given question.

Keywords: Particle hopping model; traffic flow; traffic theory; traffic jam; differential equations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1996-04
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wop:safiwp:96-04-015

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