AM Seminar: Applications of the Flow-Density Relationship in Traffic Modeling
Presenter: Dr. Martha Shott, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Sonoma State University
Description: Many mathematical models of traffic are macroscopic in nature, meaning that they model the relationship between average speed, density, and flow along a road or freeway segment. One of the fundamental relationships connecting these three quantities is the flow-density relationship, for which various models have been proposed since the 1930s. In this talk, we will discuss some of the more commonly used models of the flow-density relationship, as well as how those models are used within the contexts of stop-and-go congestion, catastrophe scenarios, and freeway infrastructure assessment.
Bio: Dr. Martha Shott is an applied mathematician and professor at Sonoma State University. She received her B.S. in Mathematics from Davidson College in North Carolina and subsequently earned her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Davis. While much of her research continues from her dissertation related to traffic flow modeling, Dr. Shott also works with undergraduate students on ecological modeling. Outside of academia, she enjoys running, cooking, playing board games, and adapting 80s pop music to be about her pets.
Hosted by: Professor Julie Simons
