Model-based traffic control for balanced reduction of fuel consumption, emissions, and travel time

In this paper we integrate the macroscopic traffic flow model METANET with the microscopic dynamic emission and fuel consumption model VT-Micro. We use the integrated models in the model predictive control (MPC) framework to reduce exhaust emissions, fuel consumption, and travel time using dynamic speed limit control. With simulation experiments we demonstrate the countereffects and conflicting nature of the different traffic control objectives. Our simulation results indicate that a model-based traffic control approach, particularly MPC, can be used to obtain a balanced trade-off between the conflicting traffic control objectives.