Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
12-31-2025
Degree Name
Master of Science in Transportation - (M.S.)
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Joyoung Lee
Second Advisor
I-Jy Steven Chien
Third Advisor
Branislav Dimitrijevic
Abstract
Managing speed limits in adverse weather is crucial for highway safety. Variable Speed Limit systems aim to adjust speed limits according to weather conditions, yet many traffic management centers depend on manual operator judgment. Rapid visibility fluctuations, along with operators handling multiple responsibilities, can cause delays in responding to deteriorating conditions, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions. A VSL control strategy is developed using real-time Road Weather Information System data to enable more proactive and effective adjustments. Microsimulation analysis indicates that visibility-responsive VSL operations can reduce conflicts by 59% in fog. Applying VSL only to fog-affected sections yields clear safety benefits while limiting the drop in average speed compared to area-wide application. In addition, scenarios with higher Connected Vehicle penetration showed comparable safety performance without roadside VSL infrastructure and produced positive net benefits. These results indicate timely, localized VSL strategies can improve safety while maintaining traffic flow during adverse weather.
Recommended Citation
Ban, Jiyeon, "Simulation-based assessment of operational strategies for visibility-responsive variable speed limits" (2025). Theses. 3344.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/3344
