Odysa

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Odysa Experiences with an individual green
wave
Marcel Willekens / Arjan Bezemer / Kristiaan
Langelaar
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Summary

• How does Odysa work?
• What are the effects?
• Points of attention
• References
• Further developments

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Idea behind Odysa

• Efficiency of a green wave is influenced by
• Distances between intersections
• Speed of the vehicles
• Diffusion of a peloton
• Number of intersections
• Traffic flow versus capacity of intersections
• Traffic flow versus capacity of the network

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Idea behind Odysa

• Reward good behavior

Optimalisation Flow by DYnamic and
individual Speed Advice
Destroyed speed camera by angry drivers
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How does Odysa work?
With Odysa you get more control over traffic flow

• Bundle traffic flows (no more diffusion)
• Green times opposite main directions can fit
  better in green wave
• Because of dynamic speeds, also other (secondary)
  directions can benefit

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How does Odysa work?
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How does Odysa work?

• Speed advice based on
• Time of the day
• The car in front of you
• Your place in the group
• Your place on the road
• Possible congestion next intersection

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How does Odysa work?

• Sometimes no green wave
• If you have to drive too slow (below 50 km/h)
• If you have to drive too fast (above 80 km/h)

Minimum and maximum speed is based on the
legal maximum speed and road profile
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How does Odysa work?

• Sometimes no advice
• Program switch
• Congestion next intersection
• Incidents, like accidents etc.
• Odysa system down or switched off

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What are the effects?

• Flow
• Safety
• Pollution
• Awareness

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Effects on the flow
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Effects on the flow
Profile of an average trip (City of Amsterdam
network over approx. 2500 m. and 4 intersections
Not coordinated variable cycle time
ODYSA
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Effect on flow (Amsterdam)
Average number of vehicles. Driving time not coord.var. cycle time Driving time ODYSA Difference
West -gt East (into city) 1.160 308 s 217 s - 91 s
East-gt West (out of city) 200 216 s 250 s 34 s
Crossing network (south -north at intersection 891) 240 56 s 70 s 14 s
Crossing network (north - south at intersection 891) 120 95 s 116 s 21 s
Results simulation study morning traffic hour
(source city of Amsterdam)
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Effect on flow

• Public transport
• Compared to the situation of absolute priority
  for public transport in mode Not coordinated
  variable cycle time, absolute priority for
  public transport in mode Odysa is limited
• Extra delay for busses when there is a bus stop
  within the green wave
• Public transport can also profit of green wave

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Effects on safety

• No study has been conducted yet, but the first
  impressions are
• Less head tail collisions
• Lower average speed within green wave
• Odysa is also applicable in the night with low
  traffic flows
• excessive speeding is avoided
• driver is rewarded with guaranteed green when
  following the advised speed

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Effects on air pollution

• Real time emission measurements were carried out
  with a petrol fueled car under different
  circumstances and routes
• Measurements were repeated multiple times in a
  laboratory environment

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Effects on air pollution
Emissions carbon dioxide year basis between
0600 am en 2000 pm main directions
Emission nitrogen (NOx) year basis between 0600
am en 2000 pm main directions
700
1800
1600
600
1400
500
1200
400
x 1000 kg / year
1000
Kg / year
800
300
600
200
400
100
200
0
0
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
Emissions Nitrogen (NOx)
Emissions Carbon dioxide (CO2)
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Effects on air pollution
Emissions (preliminary results)
100
95
90
85
80
75
Emissions PM10 (grams / km)
Emissions NOx (grams / km)
Emissions CO2 (grams / km)
Not coordinated variable cycle time
Traditional green wave
ODYSA
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Effects on air pollution
Conclusions

• Lower emissions for traffic on non main
  directions, although higher travel times
• Air pollution benefits can be much higher for
  trucks
• Emission differences for the whole network are
  smaller

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Awareness

• Drivers adapt quickly to speed advice
• Perception research in Odysa Breda
• Traffic on main route is more positive then local
  traffic
• Truck drivers are more positive then car drivers
• 71 of main traffic and 87 of truck drivers obey
  the advised speed.
• Local traffic doesnt always benefit from Odysa
  and is less positive.

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Points of attention

• Maximum speed between 70 and 80 km/h
• Low percentage local traffic
• Over saturated situations on main directions
  should be avoided at all times
• Reliable communication between traffic
  controllers and (variable) speed indicators
• Functional maintenance green waves need
  monitoring because of changing traffic flows.

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Reference projects

• Odysa Breda Tilburg (N282)- 4 intersections
  (approx. 3000 meters)
• Odysa Amsterdam - 4 intersections (approx. 2500
  meters)
• New Odysa networks in 2009
• expending network Amsterdam from 4 to 6
  intersections (approx. 3900 meters)
• Veghel (N279) - 6 intersections (approx. 2700
  meters)
• Spijkenisse (N218) - 3 intersections (approx.
  2900 meters)
• Eindhoven - 5 intersections (approx. 4300 meters.
  This Odysa network includes a new study project
  Odysa In-car where the speed indication is
  displayed inside the car via a wireless
  network.).

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Developments

• New software development
• In-car technology
• Communication from traffic light controller to
  the car
• Communication from the car to the traffic light
  controller
• Possible controlling motor management??

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In short

• With Odysa
• more control on traffic flows
• cleaner air
• less stress for drivers