On Optimization of Traffic Flow Performance for Conservation Laws on Networks

We investigate several optimization problems related to different traffic performance indexes considered in the literature: to diminuish mean travel time or queue lengths, to minimise stop-and-go waves, or to get a fuel consumption reduction. We analyze these problems within the general control setup for conservation law models on networks recently proposed by the authors [On the optimization of conservation law models at a junction with inflow and flow distribution controls, SIAM J. Control Optimization 56 (2018) 3370-3403]. The existence of optimal solutions for the above mentioned problems is obtained in the context of distribution and inflow controls acting at a single junction. A variational formulation of such optimization problems is also provided and some numerical simulations of optimal solutions are discussed.