The measurement of road traffic states under high data loss rate

•We discussed the relationships between compressive sensing and the road traffic states measurement.•The measurement approach of road traffic states under high data loss rate is proposed.•The parameters determination and the restrictiveness analysis of this algorithm are discussed.•This road traffic states measurement approach under high data loss rate is feasible and can achieve a high accuracy.

The accurate measurement of traffic states of the road traffic network can provide decision-making for both travellers and traffic managers. In this paper, an algorithm is presented to estimate traffic states of the road traffic network under high data loss rate. Firstly, the relationships between the compressive sensing and the road traffic states measurement are discussed. Then the road traffic states measurement approach under high data loss rate is presented. The parameters determination and the restrictiveness analysis of this algorithm are also discussed. Finally one typical road network in Beijing is adopted for case studies. The final results of the experiments are listed, which prove that this road traffic states measurement approach under high data loss rate is feasible and can achieve a high accuracy.