Fuzzy Perspectives in Traffic Engineering

This paper presents an outlook on the perspectives of applying fuzzy logic techniques in traffic and transportation systems analysis and control. To this end, the theoretical and methodological principles of the fuzzy logic approach are outlined. An overview is given of the fuzzy logic applications in the transportation and traffic-engineering field, especially in the areas of estimation and prediction of traffic engineering parameters, modeling the behavior of road users and traffic control. The results of a critical analysis and assessment are presented, yielding a list of strong and weak points of the fuzzy logic approach. Finally, research proposals are given. AKNOWLEGDEMENTS This paper conveys the results of an investigation into the perspectives of fuzzy logic in the field of traffic engineering research, carried out by the TRAIL Research School for Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics on behalf of the Transport Research Center of the Dutch Ministry of Transport (AVV). The research team consisted of both experts in the field of traffic engineering (traffic engineering section of the faculty of civil engineering and geosciences of the Delft University of Technology) and fuzzy logic (control engineering section of the faculty of information technology and systems of the Delft University of Technology).