An evaluation system for signalized intersections in a mixed-traffic environment

ABSTRACT

The rise in mixed traffic has resulted in increased traffic congestion and accidents across China. The primary objective of this study was to accurately evaluate the operational efficiency and safety of signalized intersections in a mixed-traffic environment and to perform a spatial analysis of intersection traffic conflicts, as well as to apply physics theories to solve practical problems in traffic. The mixed nature of mixed traffic is a form of chaos. Through the matching analysis of mixed-traffic characteristics and entropy, entropy can be used effectively describe the mixed state of a signalized intersection and quantify traffic chaos and disorder. The results of this study show that the entropy flow in a motor-vehicle traffic environment is 0.3807, and the evaluation grade is C. Meanwhile, the entropy flow of a mixed motor vehicle–nonmotor vehicle–pedestrian traffic environment is 0.4084 and the evaluation grade is D, indicating an increase in confusion at intersections in this type of traffic environment compared to in a motor-vehicle traffic environment. The proposed model provides a scientific and systematic method for evaluating the signalized intersection operation in mixed-traffic environments, offering a reliable theoretical foundation for improving intersection travel efficiency and safety.

KEYWORDS:

• Mixed traffic
• signalized intersection
• traffic conflict
• entropy
• operation evaluation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number: 52002161]; Yunnan Fundamental Research Project [grant number: KKSQ202102022]; The Analysis and Testing Foundation of Kunming University of Science and Technology [grant number 2023M20222206148].