Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port Motorway

Congestion on port motorways often leads to reduced capacity and traffic efficiency, while the growing prevalence of connected vehicles (CVs) offers new opportunities for improving traffic control. This paper proposes a hierarchical control method integrating ramp metering (RM) and variable speed li...

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Main Authors: Weiqi Yue, Hang Yang, Meng Li, Yibing Wang, Yusheng Zhou, Pengjun Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/6/446
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author Weiqi Yue
Hang Yang
Meng Li
Yibing Wang
Yusheng Zhou
Pengjun Zheng
author_facet Weiqi Yue
Hang Yang
Meng Li
Yibing Wang
Yusheng Zhou
Pengjun Zheng
author_sort Weiqi Yue
collection DOAJ
description Congestion on port motorways often leads to reduced capacity and traffic efficiency, while the growing prevalence of connected vehicles (CVs) offers new opportunities for improving traffic control. This paper proposes a hierarchical control method integrating ramp metering (RM) and variable speed limits (VSLs) explicitly designed for port motorway environments dominated by CVs. The method uses real-time CV data to reduce congestion through a hierarchical control framework in which the upper-level optimization determines system-wide parameters, and the lower-level execution translates them into local control commands. A microscopic simulation using SUMO in the Guoju area of the Chuanshan Port Motorway demonstrated that the proposed method increases traffic capacity by approximately 16% compared to the no-control scenario and improves traffic efficiency by 4.8% and 4.5% compared to PI-ALINEA and MTFC-FB, respectively. Further experiments in varying CV penetration rates (MPRs) from 60% to 100% revealed that while lower MPRs result in higher traffic fluctuations, the method remains effective and robust, particularly when MPRs exceed 80%. This highlights its ability to mitigate congestion and enhance the utilization of the existing infrastructure.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2079-8954
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Systems
spelling doaj-art-ef1832859c0648f7be3f2f509e3f11bb2025-08-20T03:26:52ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542025-06-0113644610.3390/systems13060446Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port MotorwayWeiqi Yue0Hang Yang1Meng Li2Yibing Wang3Yusheng Zhou4Pengjun Zheng5Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, ChinaFaculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, ChinaFaculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, ChinaInstitute of Intelligent Transportation Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaDepartment of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hongkong 999077, ChinaFaculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, ChinaCongestion on port motorways often leads to reduced capacity and traffic efficiency, while the growing prevalence of connected vehicles (CVs) offers new opportunities for improving traffic control. This paper proposes a hierarchical control method integrating ramp metering (RM) and variable speed limits (VSLs) explicitly designed for port motorway environments dominated by CVs. The method uses real-time CV data to reduce congestion through a hierarchical control framework in which the upper-level optimization determines system-wide parameters, and the lower-level execution translates them into local control commands. A microscopic simulation using SUMO in the Guoju area of the Chuanshan Port Motorway demonstrated that the proposed method increases traffic capacity by approximately 16% compared to the no-control scenario and improves traffic efficiency by 4.8% and 4.5% compared to PI-ALINEA and MTFC-FB, respectively. Further experiments in varying CV penetration rates (MPRs) from 60% to 100% revealed that while lower MPRs result in higher traffic fluctuations, the method remains effective and robust, particularly when MPRs exceed 80%. This highlights its ability to mitigate congestion and enhance the utilization of the existing infrastructure.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/6/446hierarchical controlramp meteringvariable speed limit controlport motorwaysconnected vehicles
spellingShingle Weiqi Yue
Hang Yang
Meng Li
Yibing Wang
Yusheng Zhou
Pengjun Zheng
Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port Motorway
Systems
hierarchical control
ramp metering
variable speed limit control
port motorways
connected vehicles
title Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port Motorway
title_full Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port Motorway
title_fullStr Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port Motorway
title_full_unstemmed Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port Motorway
title_short Hierarchical Control Based on Ramp Metering and Variable Speed Limit for Port Motorway
title_sort hierarchical control based on ramp metering and variable speed limit for port motorway
topic hierarchical control
ramp metering
variable speed limit control
port motorways
connected vehicles
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/6/446
work_keys_str_mv AT weiqiyue hierarchicalcontrolbasedonrampmeteringandvariablespeedlimitforportmotorway
AT hangyang hierarchicalcontrolbasedonrampmeteringandvariablespeedlimitforportmotorway
AT mengli hierarchicalcontrolbasedonrampmeteringandvariablespeedlimitforportmotorway
AT yibingwang hierarchicalcontrolbasedonrampmeteringandvariablespeedlimitforportmotorway
AT yushengzhou hierarchicalcontrolbasedonrampmeteringandvariablespeedlimitforportmotorway
AT pengjunzheng hierarchicalcontrolbasedonrampmeteringandvariablespeedlimitforportmotorway