Lattice Boltzmann Method for Heterogeneous Multi-class Traffic Flow

Abstract

The traffic modelling often keeps the mesoscopic scale in the theoretical sphere because the integro-differential nature of its equations. In the present work we suggest to use the lattice Boltzmann method to overcome these difficulties. In particular, the method has a strong theoretical foundation. An improved version of the lattice Boltzmann method for multi-class and heterogeneities, has been introduced here. Its ability to reproduce the fundamental diagram is proved here, for both single-class and multi-class flows. This allows easily simulating complex and realistic cases of mixture of multi-class traffic flow. These simulations are able to capture jamming in various traffic situations such as road merging, reduction of number of lanes or change of speed limits.