A fuzzy-based system for incident detection in urban street networks

• Published in: Transportation research. Part C, Emerging technologies Emerging technologies, 2007-04, Vol.15 (2), p.69-95
• Main Author: Hawas, Yaser E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accident patterns; Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Calibration; Exact sciences and technology; Fuzzy logic; Ground, air and sea transportation, marine construction; Incident detection; Intersections; Neurofuzzy logic; Real-time system; Road operations (signalization, lighting, safety and accessories, snow clearance, acoustical panel, etc.); Road transportation and traffic; Simulation modeling; Transportation infrastructure; Validation
• ISSN: 0968-090X; 1879-2359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2007.02.001

Detecting incidents on urban streets or arterials using loop detector data is quite challenging. The pattern of the incident could be quite similar to non-incident cases as intersections get congested. This paper describes the development of a fuzzy logic for incident detection. An Integrated System for Incident Management ( ▪- sim) was developed. An integral component of such system is a microscopic simulator, ▪- sim- s, an object-oriented model that allows for virtual detector installations at different locations, modeling different intersection layouts, traffic control types and timing, and link characteristics. ▪- sim- s was utilized to generate various incident scenarios and extracting associated detectors’ accumulative counts. A data clustering technique was utilized to consolidate the various incident scenarios into a single data set for the development of the Fuzzy Logic for incident detection at intersections ( ▪- sim- fl). The ▪- sim- fl uses the detector data as well as other link properties in flagging detecting incidents. The ▪- sim- fl can be used to indicate the possibility of an incident, a stalled vehicle, or a sort of traffic disturbance. The devised logic was validated using separate simulation-based incident scenarios.