Road Networks, Braess’s Paradox, and Google Maps
http://mashable.com/2017/07/17/google-maps-app-traffic-predictions/#3LcHW76B.PqP
According to this article, a recent Google Maps update will include traffic predictions over the course of a day. This is similar to an already-existing feature on Google Maps that shows current traffic, and finds alternate routes and ranks them based on travel time. This could be of large importance, helping people find faster routes to avoid rush hour traffic and traffic from special events, before they even step foot in their car.
This article relates almost directly to modeling network traffic using game theory. Google Maps determines the best route based on projected travel time, identical to how traffic at equilibrium was determined in class. It is interesting to see how Google Maps incorporates the amount of travelers into its algorithms. Another factor that is worth investigating is the incorporation of Braess’s Paradox in Google Maps’ calculations. Braess’ Paradox is the occurrence of a worsened equilibrium, despite the addition of resources in a travel network. Braess’s Paradox essentially occurs because everyone gets drawn towards the additional resources, which actually makes the drive time worse. Braess’s Paradox could very easily be overlooked in Google Maps, or potentially just harder to predict.
Google Maps will surely conduct many studies on the accuracy of its traffic predictions. This will allow Google Maps to develop more accurate algorithms and projections that will result in more dependable equilibrium results for users of Google Maps, and thus shorter drive times.