This document summarizes Alkasim Auwal's project on a fuzzy microscopic traffic flow model. The model uses fuzzy logic to describe car-following behavior based on relative velocity and distance from the vehicle ahead. It aims to model driver behavior more naturally than previous models by accounting for imprecise sensory data. However, the model is limited as it only considers two vehicles and not other road factors like traffic lights or curves that influence driving. Further research could expand the model to compare left and right-hand driving behaviors and relate driving to cognitive functions.

1. FUZZY MICROSCOPIC TRAFFIC FLOW MODEL
ALKASIM AUWAL
SPS/17/MCE/00051
PRESENTED TO
PROFESSOR HASHIM M ALHASSAN
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO.
May 8, 2018

2. INTRODUCTION
The fuzzy logic car-following model was
developed by the Transportation Research
Group (TRG) at the University of Southampton
(Wu et al., 2000). McDonald collected car
following behavior data on real roads and
developed and validated the proposed fuzzy
logic car-following model based on the real-
world data. The fuzzy logic model uses relative
velocity and distance divergence (DSSD) (the
ratio of headway distance to a desired headway)
as input variables

3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The number of traffic accidents involving rear-end
collisions is the highest over the last decade (Iwashita
et al., 2011). A rear-end collision occurs when the
distance between two vehicles decreases due to
deceleration of the lead vehicle or higher speed of
the following vehicle. The automatic vehicle control
system maintains a safe headway distance while
following a vehicle and controls velocity according to
the relative speed of the leading vehicle, in order to
avoid a rear-end collision.

4. AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim
To review fuzzy microscopic car following model.
Objectives
1) To described Car-following behavior in a
natural manner that reflects the imprecise and
incomplete sensory data presented by human
sensory modalities.
2) To Understand the driver car-following
behavior using a fuzzy logic car-following model

5. LITERATURE REVIEW
A car-following model controls the interactions with
the preceding vehicle in the same lane. Modeling of
car following behavior is needed in all traffic micro-
simulation systems
Car-following
A car-following model controls driver’s behavior with
respect to the preceding vehicle in the same lane. A
vehicle is classified as following when it is constrained
by a preceding vehicle, and driving at the desired
speed will lead to a collision. When a vehicle is not
constrained by another vehicle it is considered free
and travels, in general, at its desired speed.

6. The follower’s actions is commonly specified through
the follower’s acceleration, although some models, for
example the car-following model developed by Gipps
(1981), specify the follower’s actions through the
follower’s speed. Some car-following models only
describe drivers’ behavior when actually following
another vehicle, whereas other models are more
complete and determine the behavior in all situations.
In the end, a car-following model should deduce both
in which regime or state a vehicle is in and what actions
it applies in each state. Most car-following models use
several regimes to describe the follower’s behavior.

7. LIMITATIONS OF FUZZY TRAFFIC FLOW MODEL
The fuzzy logic car-following model deals mainly with two
vehicles: a vehicle in front and the driver’s own vehicle. When
drivers approach an intersection with a traffic light under car-
following conditions, they may pay more attention to the
signal in front of the leading vehicle and manage their
acceleration based on the traffic light. Drivers allocate their
attention to the forward road structure instead of the leading
vehicle when they approach a tight curve; thus, they may
reduce their driving speed before entering the curve even if
the headway distance is opening. The car-following behavior
before intersections or tight curves can be influenced by
environmental factors other than a lead vehicle.

8. FUTURE RESEARCH/CONCLUSION
Further research will be addressed to compare
the car-following behavior between left-hand
driving and right-hand driving.
Analysis of the relationship between driving
behavior and a driver’s cognitive functions will
help determine how driver support systems may
assist driving behavior and detect the driver’s
cognitive functions based on natural driving
behavior.

9. References
Gipps, P.G.; (1981). A behavioural car following
model for computer simulation.
Transportation Research Part B, Vol.15, No.2,
(April 1981), pp. 105-111, ISSN 0191-2615
T. Takagi and M. Sugeno. F uzzy 1demificition of
Systems and Its Applications to Modeling and
Control. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and
Cybemerics Vol. 15, No. I, 1985, pp. 116132.
A. D. May. Traffic Flow Fundamentals. Prentice-
Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1990