Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore the features of Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) linking vehicle accumulation and traffic production for Sendai and Kyoto arterial road networks in Japan. By investigating MFDs based on detectors data of 5-minute periods throughout one year (5/1/2012 ~ 4/30/2013), the following features were observed: (1) the hysteresis loop always forms in an MFD during morning peak hours on weekdays with good weather for Sendai road networks; (2) the large hysteresis loop occurs in an MFD on the holiday for Kyoto road networks, and during its formation process, the traffic production maintains a certain level while the vehicle accumulation increases. In addition, we analyze these MFD features by using congestion pattern (the number of queue-spillbacks and its spatial distribution) on the road networks.
