Modelling severe weather impact on traffic mobility and evaluating cross-regional applicability to functionally distinct segments in cold region highway networks

Abstract

This study in Alberta, Canada, focuses on winter traffic modeling, crucial for transportation agencies in cold regions. By gathering data from six Weigh-in-motion (WIM) sites, models were developed and tested for three vehicle types. Notably, the research assessed the transferability of models between different highway segments, indicating successful transfer of coefficients to varied road functionalities. This suggests that agencies can optimize model structures for specific vehicle classes, enhancing usability without additional monitoring sites. Overall, the study highlights the feasibility of improving winter traffic models and their applicability across diverse road segments, benefiting transportation planning and management in cold climates.

Keywords

• Road function
• Winter traffic model
• Spatial modelling
• Regional
• Commuter