Freeway Traffic Modeling by Physics-Regularized Gaussian Processes

Effective traffic management and control are essential for mitigating congestion and minimizing environmental impacts on road transportation systems. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for traffic modeling that integrates physics-based dynamics with machine learning techniques. Our method leverages Gaussian Processes (GPs) and a multi-class second-order discrete traffic model known as METANET to develop a Physics-Regularized Machine Learning framework. Furthermore, the proposed approach includes for the first time multi-class on/off ramps within the modeling framework, enhancing the realism of the predictive model. We systematically evaluate the performance of the hybrid model across varying dataset sizes to determine optimal data requirements for accurate traffic predictions. Experimental results indicate the improved predictive performance of the proposed approach compared to traditional machine learning and physics-based models. Our findings underscore the potential of Physics-Regularized Machine Learning for enhancing traffic management and control strategies in real-world scenarios.