Signal Group-based Look-ahead Traffic Signal Control

Signal Group-based Look-ahead Traffic Signal Control

van Gurp, Niels (TU Delft Civil Engineering and Geosciences; TU Delft Transport and Planning; Goudappel Coffeng)

Hegyi, Andreas (mentor)
De Schutter, Bart (graduation committee)
Salomons, Maria (graduation committee)
Krol, Lieuwe (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Civil Engineering

2019-01-31

Traffic signal controllers have been around since the late sixties of the 19th century and since then they have played an increasing role in (urban) traffic management. Over the years many different algorithms have been developed and in Dutch practice actuated control is mostly used. Actuated control and other similar approaches apply variable green times to handle demand fluctuation, which leads to a reduction of the delay for vehicles in comparison to e.g. fixed-time control, however, in actuated control it is difficult to accurately predict control decisions. This study proposes a new traffic signal control algorithm that creates a planning of control decisions based on expected vehicle arrivals. By doing so, predictability of control decisions increases, while no sacrifices need to be made regarding the optimality of the control policy. Since certain errors such as inaccurate queue discharge rates are incorporated in the planning of control decisions, a second algorithm is required that adjusts the planning of control decisions to actual traffic conditions. Using an N65 case study intersection the performance of the new traffic signal control algorithm is compared to other algorithms. Depending on the availability of vehicle arrivals and the composition of traffic flows at the intersection, the new algorithm outperforms standard Dutch actuated traffic signal control in terms of overall delay by 3.1% to 4.7%. A range of improvement possibilities is suggested to ensure a greater reduction of the delay.

Traffic Signal Control
Planning of Control Decisions
Look-ahead Control
Time-to-green
Time-to-red
Signal Group-based Approach
Dynamic Programming
Objective Balancement
Adaptability, Predictability, Priority

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:da524b69-9a04-4c76-b333-1d5720c50daf

2019-08-01

Student theses

master thesis

© 2019 Niels van Gurp