Matrix-based long-term traffic flow prediction

Abstract

Accurate long-term traffic prediction is crucial for enhancing traffic efficiency, ensuring urban safety, and fostering sustainable urban development. However, forecasting over extended periods is challenging due to intricate trends, cyclical variations, and interference from outlier data. To address these issues, this study proposes a matrix-based traffic flow prediction model. The model constructs a matrix with periods as rows and similarities as columns, leveraging periodicity and similarity in traffic data. A row-column prediction module links these patterns efficiently, while a fluctuation transformation mitigates the impact of outliers, significantly improving forecast accuracy. Extending the forecast time span to 14 days with hourly intervals, the model was validated using the PeMS dataset provided by the California Department of Transportation. Results demonstrate the model’s effectiveness in capturing complex temporal dynamics, providing a robust tool for long-term traffic prediction.