Empirical Characterization of Mass Evacuation Traffic Flow

摘要: Among the many gaps in current state of mass evacuation planning and analysis practice has been a lack field-based study traffic flows under actual conditions. Without observational studies such conditions, simulations forecasts roadway performance during emergencies have historically based on conjecture professional judgment. However, recent series hurricane evacuations along U.S. Gulf Coast given investigators opportunity to collect evaluate conditions scenarios. This paper uses recently collected data from two Louisiana assess how well various classifications different geographic areas were able carry both normal-flow contraflow operations. The objectives characterize general flow an condition, address lingering questions related maximum sustainable flows, examine compared with those suggested Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). findings this work suggest that most roadways below HCM-predicted maximums despite enormous demand generated by evacuation, urban typically do not even reach typical daily commuter periods.