Quantitative Assessment of Traffic Flow Disruption: A Case Study on Infrastructure Resilience During Extreme Weather Events

Abstract

Transportation infrastructures globally face increasing challenges due to extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. This study empirically assesses the impact of such disruptions on urban traffic flow in a metropolitan area. Utilizing a combination of real-time traffic data analytics and simulation models, we applied the VISSIM simulation software (version 10.4) to evaluate changes in vehicle speed, delay, and congestion levels. Our findings indicate that under severe weather conditions, traffic delay can increase by up to 38% compared to normal conditions, revealing critical vulnerabilities in urban transportation systems. A comparative analysis shows significant correlations between specific weather events and traffic flow disruptions, providing essential insights for enhancing infrastructure resilience. These results underscore the necessity for adaptive transportation planning to mitigate future disruptions, aiming for sustainable urban mobility.