Topic outline

  • General

    Welcome to the Traffic Flow Theory course!

    The course belongs to the elective courses of the Master's Program in Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering. 

    The course is intended for Master's and PhD students and it is offered in English.


    Learning outcomes

    After successful completion of the course, a student is able to:

    • Describe the main characteristics of traffic flow
    • Represent traffic phenomena using different methods and tools
    • Recognise how traffic congestion starts and propagates
    • Select and apply appropriate methods and techniques for analysing traffic-related problems
    • Interpret and elaborate different type of traffic data


    Course content

    The course contents include:

    1. Introduction to Traffic Flow Theory
    2. The time-space diagram
    3. Fundamental variables and cumulative plots
    4. Dynamic microscopic model
    5. Fundamental diagram
    6. Shockwave theory
    7. Dynamic macroscopic models
    8. Highway capacity
    9. Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (or Network Fundamental Diagram)
    10. Pedestrian flow theory
    11. Future of traffic flow theory


    Practicalities

    News regarding the course will be posted here in myCourses, within the Announcements Forum. Please, make sure you receive notifications when new messages are posted.

    The course is planned to take place mostly in person, with live classes, exercise sessions, and group-work activities. Still, if you feel uncomfortable in coming to the campus, I will share sufficient material (slides, recordings, ...) necessary for mastering the topic and passing the course; however, I cannot guarantee the same learning experience. Please contact me and we will try to figure out the best ways to overcome any practical issues.