Effect of Traffic Information Propagation on EDSA Congestion

Jose Antonio Pascual Kardi Teknomo Ateneo De Manila Ateneo De Manila Department of Information Department of Information Systems and Computer Science Systems and Computer Science [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT an intelligent transport system cannot focus on collecting data Traffic in Metro Manila costs an estimated 2.4 billion Pesos every without utilizing it. [1][4] day. With Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, or EDSA, being one of There are an estimated 1700 buses that travel along the main thoroughfares, a reduction of traffic would benefit the EDSA every day, while in comparison, there are an estimated whole National Capital Region. This paper would study the 264,067 private vehicles that pass EDSA daily. With the total possible effect of better propagation of instantaneous traffic data estimate is 326,504 vehicles, translating to roughly 60,000 for EDSA, allowing drivers to make better informed decisions PUV/Jeepneys a day. [2][5] regarding what route to take, and if that route should include EDSA. Traffic updates, including EDSA are available online and 2. RELATED LITERATURE through radio, but this paper will consider the addition of Intelligent transportation systems generally consist of two parts, additional information dissemination techniques such as electronic data collection and implementation. One cannot be effective signage along EDSA and the adjoining roads. without the other as without the proper data, systems such as variable speed limits, variable message signage and intelligent Categories and Subject Descriptors traffic signals cannot operate properly. Without systems to I.6.1 [Simulation Theory]: influence traffic, data collection is less useful. [1][4] Advanced Traveller Information Systems disseminate General Terms and broadcast information about different transit conditions, such Your general terms must be any of the following 16 designated as road congestion, rail or bus stoppage, inclement weather, road terms: Human Factors, Theory. work, and traffic accidents. More advanced systems can even guide drivers to parking spaces. Keywords Traffic information 3. METHODOLOGY 1. INTRODUCTION The number of public vehicles and buses travelling EDSA will be Traffic in Metro Manila costs an estimated 2.4 billion Pesos every held at a constant rate based on real data. Average travel speed day. This is from a combination of wasted resources, mostly fuel, will be computed linearly with the average for all vehicle types and wasted productivity. Traffic information for Metro Manila, used in conjunction with the real life average speed. Buses will and EDSA is available on the internet, and through scheduled have an arbitrary weight of 6 private vehicles and PUV/Jeepneys traffic updates on TV and radio. Because internet updates are not an arbitrary weight of 2.5. The likelihood of drivers to choose typically readily available for drivers while they are driving, and EDSA will be based on current travel speed, with zero average because radio updates are only available at certain times, this speed being the lower bound and twice the average peed being the paper will attempt to predict the impact of increasing the upper bound. The actual average speed will be used for 50% proportion of drivers aware of the instantaneous status of traffic chance for drivers to want to take EDSA. The set likelihood will along EDSA, in order to allow them to better decide on routes to be multiplied to an arbitrary 90% of the real life average, and choose. This paper also will factor in drivers who would choose to further multiplied to the percentage of information distribution. take EDSA regardless of traffic status, such as public The additive inverse of information distribution will be multiplied transportation, and those whose destinations are along EDSA. to the 90% of drivers and added to the informed drivers. 10% of Associated phenomenon such as over-compensation and drivers are excluded to account for those with no choice but to saturation of alternate routes will not be included. [2] take EDSA. Simulations began at the average speed and were run Intelligent transport systems focus on making existing until a stable value was reached. Likelihood is based on infrastructure more effective by utilizing modern information categorizing the average travel speed into five categories. This is technology. Systems are in place all over the world with Japan to account for the manner in which information is conveyed to the and Singapore among the notable examples. With the existing drivers. camera network installed along EDSA, drivers need to be able to Updating category information is delayed one iteration better utilize the data gathered by the cameras. Current to account for travel time and attempt to more closely match the information can play a big role in a person’s choice of route, and real behaviour of traffic. 3.1 Equations You are free: to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work, to Remix — to adapt the work, to make commercial use of the work. Under the following conditions: Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). With the understanding that: Waiver — Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. Public Domain — Where the work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license. Other Rights — In no way are any of the following rights affected by the license: Your fair dealing or Category Speed Likelihood* fair use rights, or other applicable copyright exceptions and limitations; The 1=Heavily author's moral rights; Rights other persons may have either in the work itself or in Congested <=10 km/h 20 how the work is used, such as publicity or privacy rights. Notice — For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. The 2=Moderately best way to do this is with a link to this web page. Heavily Congested >10, <=20 km/h 40 3=Moderately Congested >20,<=30 km/h 60 4=Light Traffic >30,<=40 km/h 80 5=Free Flow >40 km/h 100%

2 4. ANALYSIS Running the simulations shows a typical average speed gain of up to roughly 8 km/h at 100% information availability with about half at 50%. The simulation exhibits spikes more likely towards full information availability. These spikes are caused by avoiding high traffic areas leading to temporary relief of congestion followed by sudden influx of cars taking advantage of the free roadways. As simulation time increases the phenomenon appears less often.

REFERENCES Ezzell, S. 2010, "Intelligent Transportation Systems" Retrieved from http://www.itif.org/files/2010-1-27-ITS_Leadership.pdf Frialde, M. 10 July 2013, Philippine STAR online. "MMDA proposes expanded 'number coding' on EDSA". Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/07/10/963881/mmda- proposes-expanded-number-coding-edsa Hsin-Li, C. and Pin-Chuan, C., "The Impact of Traffic Information on Drivers' Route Choice - Using Competence Sets Analysis". Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol. 6, pp. 2425 - 2440, 2005, retrieved from http://www.easts.info/on-line/journal_06/2425.pdf Huo, H. and Levinson, D, 2002, "Effectiveness of Variable Message Signs". Retrieved from http://nexus.umn.edu/papers/vms.pdf Mendoza, M.V. and San Diego, M.G., N.D. "Determination of Route Measured Capacity of Buses for EDSA". Retrieved 5. CONCLUSIONS from.http://ncts.upd.edu.ph/main/downloads/finish/7- Increasing the awareness for traffic conditions along EDSA will undergraduate-research/27-determination-of-route-measured- be an effective way to partially alleviate everyday congestion, capacity-of-buses-for-edsa though it is not a complete solution.