Technical Papers
Mar 20, 2012

Full Bayesian Method for the Development of Speed Models: Applications of GPS Probe Data

Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 10

Abstract

Traffic speed is one of the basic variables that indicates the level of service of a road entity. It plays an essential role in transportation planning and management. This study attempts to establish a prediction model for speed distribution, in terms of average travel speed and standard deviation, using probe vehicle data in Hong Kong. Taking advantage of detailed traffic flow data obtained from the annual traffic census, a comprehensive traffic information database can be established using the geographical information system technique. The effects of traffic flow, road geometry, and weather conditions on speed distribution are determined using the Markov-chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation approach full Bayesian method.

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Acknowledgments

The work described in this paper was partially supported by a Research Postgraduate Studentship, an Outstanding Researcher Award, the Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme of the University of Hong Kong, and a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. HKU7176/07E, HKU7188/11E), and a grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61021063). We would like to express our sincere thanks to Concord Pacific Satellite Technologies Limited and Motion Power Media Limited for providing the GPS data from the taxis and Transport Department of the HKSAR Government for the traffic flow data from the ATC for this study.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Transportation Engineering
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 138Issue 10October 2012
Pages: 1188 - 1195

History

Received: Jan 26, 2011
Accepted: Mar 15, 2012
Published online: Mar 20, 2012
Published in print: Oct 1, 2012

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Authors

Affiliations

Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Automation, Tsinghua Univ., Beijing, China. E-mail: [email protected]
M.ASCE
Chair Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. E-mail: [email protected]
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. E-mail: [email protected]
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]

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