Traffic prediction at signalised intersections using Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation

Abstract: A Bayesian approach to predicting traffic flows at signalised intersections is considered using the the INLA framework. INLA is a deterministic, computationally efficient alternative to MCMC for estimating a posterior distribution. It is designed for latent Gaussian models where the parameters follow a joint Gaussian distribution. An assumption which naturally evolves from an LGM is that of a Gaussian Markov Random Field (GMRF). It can be shown that a traffic prediction model based in both space and time satisfies this assumption, and as such the INLA algorithm provides accurate prediction when space, time, and other relevant covariants are included in the model.