A multi-intersection model and signal timing plan algorithm for urban traffic signal control

Abstract

The urban traffic signal control system is complex, non-linear and non-equilibrium in real conditions. The existing methods could not satisfy the requirement of real-time and dynamic control. In order to solve these difficulties and challenges, this paper proposes a novel Multi-Intersection Model (MIM) based on Cellular Automata (CA) and a Multi-Intersection Signal Timing Plan Algorithm (MISTPA), which can reduce the delay time at each intersection and effectively alleviate the traffic pressure on each intersection in the urban traffic network. Our work is divided into several parts: (1) a multi-intersection model based on CA is defined to build the dynamic urban traffic network; (2) MISTPA is proposed, which truly reflects the real-time demand degree to green time of the traffic flow at each intersection. The MISTPA is composed Single Intersection Volume Algorithm (SIVA), Single-Lane Volume Algorithm (SLVA) and single intersection signal timing plan algorithm (SISTPA). Extensive experiments show that when the saturation is greater than 0.3, the MIM and the MISTPA achieve good performance, and can significantly reduce the vehicle delay time at each intersection. The average delay time of the traffic flow at each intersection can obviously be reduced. Finally, a practical case study demonstrates that the proposed model and the corresponding algorithm are correct and effective.

First published online: 28 Aug 2014