Several intelligent vehicle–highway system demonstration projects are currently assessing the feasibility of using probe vehicles to collect realtime traffic data for advanced traffic management and information systems. They have used a variety of criteria to determine the number of probes necessary, but few generalizable algorithms have been developed and tested. The described algorithm explicitly considers the time period for travel time estimation (e.g., 5, 10, or 15 min), the number of replications of travel time desired for each link during each measurement period (reliability criterion), the proportion of links to be covered, and the length of the peak period. This algorithm is implemented by using a simulation of the Sacramento Network (170 mi2) for the morning peak period. The results indicate that the number of probe vehicles required increases non-linearly as the reliability criterion is made more stringent. More probes are required for shorter measurement periods. As the desired proportion of link coverage in the network increases, the number of probes required increases. With a given number of probes a greater proportion of freeway links than of major arterials can reliably be covered. Probe vehicles appear to be an attractive source of real-time traffic information in heavily traveled, high-speed corridors such as freeways and major arterials during peak periods, but they are not recommended for coverage of minor arterials or local and collector streets or during off-peak hours.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Determination of Number of Probe Vehicles Required for Reliable Travel Time Measurement in Urban Network


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1996-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Determination of Number of Probe Vehicles Required for Reliable Travel Time Measurement in Urban Network

    Srinivasan, K. K. / Jovanis, P. P. / National Research Council; Transportation Research Board | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996



    Determination of Number of Probe Vehicles Required for Reliable Travel Time Measurement in Urban Network

    Srinivasan, Karthik / Jovanis, Paul | Transportation Research Record | 1996



    Factors Affecting Minimum Number of Probes Required for Reliable Estimation of Travel Time

    Cetin, Mecit / List, George F. / Zhou, Yingjie | Transportation Research Record | 2005