Optimizing Signal Timings from the Field: VISGAOST and VISSIM-ASC/3 Software-in-the-Loop Simulation

Traditionally, when traffic signals are retimed, a significant difference is seen between signal timings recommended by optimization software and those implemented in field controllers. Those two sets of signal timings rarely match each other, and often a manual process is involved in transferring the data to and from the field controllers. A method is presented: signal timings are downloaded from field controllers, optimized by a software package, and then uploaded to field controllers. The method is VISGAOST, a stochastic optimization program, working with VISSIM–ASC/3 software-in-the-loop simulation to optimize the signal timings obtained from the field. The method was applied to optimize signal timings for a five-intersection urban arterial segment in West Valley City, Utah. Traffic operations simulated by a high-fidelity VISSIM represented field observations reliably. After thousands of potential signal timings were evaluated, VISGAOST found a better set of signal timings than those used in the field. The final signal timings were tested for robustness under fluctuating traffic in microsimulation. The test results show that these optimized signal timings are more robust than those used in the field. Further applications of the method are needed to test the field performance of the signal timings optimized by VISGAOST.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2128-12
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Optimizing+Signal+Timings+from+the+Field%3a+VISGAOST+and+VISSIM-ASC%2f3+Software-in-the-Loop+Simulation&author=A.+Stevanovic&author=J.+Stevanovic&author=P.+Martin&publication_year=2009
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309142601
• Authors:
  • Stevanovic, Aleksandar
  • Stevanovic, Jelka
  • Martin, Peter T
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 114-120
• Monograph Title: Traffic Signal Systems 2009
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2128
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arterial highways; Highway traffic control; Microsimulation; Optimization; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic signal timing; Traffic simulation
• Identifier Terms: VISGAOST (Computer program); VISSIM (Computer model)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Robustness; Software in the loop simulation
• Geographic Terms: West Valley City (Utah)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01126588
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309142601
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-2110
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 17 2009 9:56AM