Microscopic Modeling of Traffic Signal Operations: Comparative Evaluation of Hardware-in-the-Loop and Software-in-the-Loop Simulations

Currently, there are three different methods to model traffic signal operations in microscopic simulation models: the simulation model’s controller emulator, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, and software-in-the-loop simulation. Although all three methods can be based on the same industry standard code, their different implementations suggest potential operational differences. This study investigates operational differences of the three methods by examining how each method operates in five experimental scenarios. Each of the scenarios differs from the others in network size (one intersection to five intersections) and operational strategies (pretimed, actuated, actuated–coordinated, and two different signal transition logics). Ten 75-min simulation runs with 100-ms simulation resolution were executed for each experiment with the three signal control modeling alternatives. The results showed that for basic signal control operations, such as pretimed and isolated actuated operations, the three alternatives provided similar results as indicated by the average green time allocation and different operational measures of effectiveness. When advanced controller operations were used, such as signal transition logic, the simulation model emulator showed significantly different behavior than that observed in hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulations.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2128-15
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Microscopic+Modeling+of+Traffic+Signal+Operations%3a+Comparative+Evaluation+of+Hardware-in-the-Loop+and+Software-in-the-Loop+Simulations&author=A.+Stevanovic&author=A.+Abdel-Rahim&author=M.+Zlatkovic&author=E.+Amin&publication_year=2009
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309142601
• Authors:
  • Stevanovic, Aleksandar
  • Abdel-Rahim, Ahmed
  • Zlatkovic, Milan
  • Amin, Enas
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 143-151
• 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: Actuated traffic signal controllers; Experiments; Hardware in the loop simulation; Microsimulation; Pretimed traffic signal controllers; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic signal cycle; Traffic simulation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Software in the loop simulation
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01126610
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309142601
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-2444
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 17 2009 9:56AM