Integrated Driving Behavior Modeling

A framework for integrated driving behavior modeling, based on the concepts of short-term goal and short-term plan is proposed. Drivers are assumed to conceive and perform short-term plans in order to accomplish short-term goals. This behavioral framework captures drivers' planning capabilities and allows decisions to be based on anticipated future conditions. An integrated driving behavior model, which utilizes these concepts, is developed. This model captures both lane changing and acceleration behaviors. The driver's shortterm goal is defined by the target lane. Drivers who wish to change lanes but cannot change lanes immediately, select a short-term plan to perform the desired lane change. Short-term plans are defined by the various gaps in traffic in the target lane. Drivers adapt their acceleration behavior to facilitate the lane change using the target gap. Hence, interdependencies between lane changing and acceleration behaviors are captured. The lane changing portion of the model integrates mandatory and discretionary lane changing considerations in a single model. Hence, allowing trade-offs between these considerations to be captured. Moreover, the integrated lane changing model overcomes the difficulty in defining conditions that trigger a mandatory lane changing situation. Model components that describe the choice of target gaps and acceleration behaviors to facilitate lane changing are introduced. The parameters of all components of the driving behavior model are estimated jointly using detailed vehicle trajectory data collected in a freeway in Arlington, VA. The result is a driving behavior model applicable to the behavior of all freeway traffic. Validation results of the proposed model using a microscopic traffic simulator are also presented. Thesis Supervisor: Moshe E. Ben-Akiva Edmund K. Turner Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Thesis Supervisor: Haris N. Koutsopoulos Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Northeastern University