Can treating traffic like flowing water help engineers identify the real causes of congestion at some of the UK’s most challenging junctions?

That’s one of the thought-provoking questions set to be explored at this September’s JCT Traffic Signals Symposium in Lincoln, where National Highways’ Peter Richards and Marinos Tsiplakis from Compass IoT Limited will present a new approach to analysing complex signal-controlled networks using floating vehicle data and fluid mechanics.

In their presentation “Modelling a Complex System of Junctions and Signals by Means of Floating Vehicle Data and Fluid Mechanics”, the speakers will explain how decades-old mathematical models originally developed for fluid flow can be combined with modern connected vehicle data to reveal where traffic problems are really occurring and, crucially, where engineers should focus their attention first.

The technique examines how, by identifying the routes that experience the greatest changes in speed and journey time, the process can highlight the network’s critical pinch points before more detailed investigation begins.

The presentation includes real-world case studies and shows how the same process can be applied elsewhere to confirm when traffic is actually flowing well, potentially saving engineers valuable time and effort.  Delegates will also hear how the approach could fit into future digital twins and more predictive traffic management systems, opening up new ways of diagnosing and monitoring network performance.

This presentation is one of fifteen technical papers being showcased at this year’s JCT Traffic Signals Symposium, which takes place on 16 and 17 September at the University of Lincoln and brings together traffic signal engineers, local authorities, consultants and technology suppliers to discuss the latest thinking in traffic management and control.  The Mova Users’ Group takes place the day before.To book your place, click here

(Picture – JCT)