The Relation between Freeway Average Speed and Speed Noise

Bahar Zarin^1*, Siamak Ardekani²

¹Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
²Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/jtts.2015.52009                

Abstract

Many factors affect the vehicular fuel consumption rate. The most significant traffic-related ones are speed, number of stops, speed noise, and acceleration noise (acceleration standard deviation). Fuel consumption models for both urban and highway traffic are used to evaluate the effect of these factors. Previous literature shows the speed and the acceleration of vehicles as well as the aerodynamic effects are the most commonly used variables in the highway fuel consumption mo dels. However, most existing models are based on the average or cruising speed and the effect of speed variation is by-and-large ignored. Incorporating the speed noise as a variable in the prediction models seems impractical because measuring it is cumbersome. However, knowing the relation between speed and speed noise may allow including the effect of speed noise in the model indirectly. To that end, this study examines the relation between speed and speed noise. The resulting mathematical relation is used to incorporate the speed noise effects in the fuel consumption model.

Keywords

Speed Noise, Average Speed, Fuel Consumption Models, Regression Model

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Schipper, L., Saengerand, C. and Sudardshan, A. (2010) Retrieved July 2013, from http://academia.edu/368027/Transport_and_Carbon_Emissions_in_the_United_States_The_Long_View
[2]	Ardekani, S., Hauer, E. and Jamei, B. (1992) Traffic Impact Models. Chapter 7 in Traffic Flow Theory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Report.
[3]	Evans, L., Herman, R. and Lam, T. (1976) Multivariate Analysis of Traffic Factors Related to Fuel Consumption in Urban Driving. Transportation Science, 10, 205-215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/trsc.10.2.205
[4]	Song, G. and Yu, L. (2009) Estimation of Fuel Efficiency of Road Traffic by Characterization of Vehicle-Specific Power and Speed Based on Floating Car Data. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2139, 11-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.3141/2139-02
[5]	Akcelik, R. (1981) Fuel Efficiency and Other Objectives in Traffic System Management. Traffic Engineering and Control, 22, 54-65.
[6]	Ahn, K., Rakha, H., Trani, A. and Van Aerde, M. (2002) Estimating Vehicle Fuel Consumption and Emissions Based on Instantaneous Speed and Acceleration Levels. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 128, 182-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2002)128:2(182)
[7]	Chang, D.J. and Morlok, K.M. (2005) Vehicle Speed Profiles to Minimize Work and Fuel Consumption. Journal of Transportation Engineering ©ASCE.
[8]	Herman, R. and Ardekani, S. (1985) The influence of Stops on Vehicle Fuel Consumption in Urban Traffic. Transportation Science, 19, 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/trsc.19.1.1
[9]	Rakha, H. and Ding, Y. (2003) Impact of Stops on Vehicle Fuel Consumption and Emissions. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 129, 23-32. Technical Papers. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2003)129:1(23)
[10]	Vincent, R.A., Mitchell, A. and Robertson, D. (1980) User Guide to TRANSYT Version 8. Transport and Road Research Lab Report No 8. LR888.
[11]	Hopkins, J.B., Hazel, M.E. and McGrath, T. (1978) Railroads and the Environment—Estimation of Fuel Consumption in Rail Transportation Volume III: Comparison of Computer Simulations with Field Measurements. Final Rep. No. FRA-OR&D-75-74. III to U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, Rep. No. PB-288866, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va.
[12]	Shankar, V. and Mannering, F. (1998) Modeling the Endogeneity of Lane-Mean Speeds and Lane-Mean Speed Deviations: A Structural Equations Approach. In Transportation Research-Part A, 32, 311-322. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0965-8564(98)00003-2
[13]	Blandin, S., Salam, A. and Bayen, A. (2011) Individual Speed Variance in Traffic Flow: Analysis of Bay Area16 Radar Measurements. 91th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington DC.
[14]	Bulteau, E., Leblanc, R., Blandin, S. and Bayen, A. (2013) Fconsumption Ratlow Estimation Using Higher-Order Speed Statistics, Individual Speed Variance in Traffic Flow: Analysis of Bay Area16 Radar Measurements. 93th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington DC.
[15]	DFW Traffic Data, Retrieved January, 2013. http://dfwtraffic.dot.state.tx.us/#showContent%28%27/DfwTrafficData/%27%29%3B
[16]	Ardekani, S.A. and Sumitsawan, P. (2010) Effect of Pavement Type on Fuel Consumption and Emissions in City Driving. Final Report to the Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation.