Bi-level route guidance method for large-scale urban road networks

This paper proposes a bi-level route guidance method based on macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD) for urban road network, which is a combination of central route guidance and distributed route guidance and it considers the intentions of both traffic management and traveler. It is a compromise of system optimum and user optimum. In upper-level route guidance, traffic dynamic evolution model of route guidance sub-region based on MFD is constructed and system optimal dynamic traffic assignment method on traffic guidance sub-region level is proposed. In lower-level route guidance, the traffic guidance paths are generated by solving the optimal path problem of the reactive users. Through analysis of the data gathering from Changchun City, China, it is verified that the proposed method not only meets the real-time requirements of dynamic traffic guidance but also provides benefits for the whole traffic system and individual traveler.