Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Any real life situation where there are nodes and edges, can be modeled as graphs. Road networks are one such example where roads can be modeled as edges and nodes can be modeled as cities. Such a model can be used to analyze and optimize various processes that take place in a road network. These models are commonly used to optimize the distance or time of travel between cities. In this study a model is developed where the speed of a vehicle is a linear function of the traffic volume. This model can be used identify locations of possible traffic congestion. When traffic congestion is observed in a road network traffic planners tend to add extra links to divert some of the traffic. This act which is done with the good intention sometimes worsens the situation. Such a situation can occur in a road network where there are two parallel roads between two cities and the two roads are connected in between by one or more links. This paper explores the criteria under which this problem can arise and suggest recommendations. A simulation run done with hypothetical data in a road network between Piliyandala and Horana in Sri Lanka is used in the study to illustrate the problem.