Sensor location problems in path-differentiated congestion pricing. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zangui, Mahmood; Yin, Yafeng; Lawphongpanich, Siriphong
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 55(2015)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 230
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Congestion pricing -- Sensor location -- Path differentiation -- Path observation; Transportation -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trc.2015.01.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-090X

Abstract

Highlights: Path-differentiated pricing imposes tolls on paths instead of individual links. Automated vehicle identification (AVI) sensors can be used for its implementation. AVI sensors identify the paths of vehicles and charge them accordingly. We investigate how to optimally locate AVI sensors for path-differentiated pricing. Abstract: Path-differentiated congestion pricing is a tolling scheme that imposes tolls on paths instead of individual links. One way to implement this scheme is to deploy automated vehicle identification sensors, such as toll tag readers or license plate scanners, on roads in a network. These sensors collect vehicles' location information to identify their paths and charge them accordingly. In this paper, we investigate how to optimally locate these sensors for the purpose of implementing path-differentiated pricing. We consider three relevant problems. The first is to locate a minimum number of sensors to implement a given path-differentiated scheme. The second is to design an optimal path-differentiated pricing scheme for a given set of sensors. The last problem is to find a path differentiated scheme to induce a given target link-flow distribution while requiring a minimum number of sensors.