Wang, Yanglan (University of California, Berkeley), Soga, Kenichi (University of California, Berkeley)

Modeling and Optimization of Traffic Evacuation Using Optimal Control Model

Scheduled for presentation during the Video Session "On-Demand Video Presentations" (VP-VP), Saturday, November 22, 2025, 08:00−18:00, On-Demand Platform

2025 IEEE 28th International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC), November 18-21, 2025, Gold Coast, Australia

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on April 2, 2026

Abstract

Efficient traffic flow optimization is vital for effective traffic management, especially during emergencies such as evacuations, which require the rapid and safe movement of large numbers of vehicles under intense time constraints. This study presents an optimal control model designed to regulate traffic input over time in rural road networks, aiming to minimize total travel time and ensure the complete evacuation of at-risk vehicles. The model integrates link-specific dynamic equations, variable constraints, and the flow–density relationship. A real-world case study of an evacuation in Inverness, California, is used to demonstrate the model’s applicability. Sensitivity analysis illustrates the impact of the weighting parameters, and a microscopic simulation validates that similar inputs in both microscopic and macroscopic simulations produce consistent output patterns. Results show that the optimal control model substantially reduces overall travel time compared to phased evacuation strategy.