Macroscopic models for vehicular flows and crowd dynamics: theory and applications. Classical and non-classical advanced mathematics for real life applications (Q367283)

This self-contained book is devoted to the modeling and mathematical analysis of traffic flow dynamics. The book focuses on the macroscopic approach for modeling traffic flow thus, the models described are governed by nonlinear hyperbolic balance laws and their systems. Two classes of dynamical processes are studied: vehicular traffic and pedestrian flows.The book is organized into three main parts: (i) Mathematical Theory; (ii) Models for Vehicular Traffic and (ii) Models for Pedestrian Traffic. In the first part the theory for conservation laws is carefully developed starting from the basic concepts. Besides the classical theory of entropy weak solutions, the concepts of non-entropy weak solutions are also introduced to describe phenomena typical of traffic, such as those related to the presence of constraints along the paths and, in the case of crowds, to the rise of panic. The method of characteristics, operator splitting, and the wave-front-tracking algorithm are detailed and applied to various typical traffic situations. In the second part, the author introduces the main theoretical definitions and models encountered in the study of vehicular traffic. After an overview and classification of the models for traffic, he describes the fundamental traffic variables and their relations. He continues with equilibrium models (with emphasis to the classical LWR model) for traffic flows and with some numerical applications, and finally, he discusses two non-equilibrium models for vehicular traffic namely the Payne-Whitam and the Aw-Rascle models. Part three is devoted to crowd dynamics characterized by a large number of individuals. The author studies so-called panic and highlights its dynamic effects, such as Braess' paradox for pedestrian flows. He explains from the modeling point of view the reasons for the failure of the classical theory of conservation laws to describe the rise of panic and, consequently, to justify the introduction of a non-classical theory. Beyond addressing the basic mathematical concepts on the structure and properties of macroscopic traffic flow models, the study presented in the book can be considered a systematic and in depth introduction to modeling of real traffic flow phenomena.