SIMULTANEOUS OPTIMIZATION OF OFFSETS, SPLITS, AND CYCLE TIME

Setting traffic signals in an urban street network involves the determination of cycle time, splits of green time, and offsets. All existing methods use a sequential procedure for calculating the traffic control variables. A common cycle time is established first, then green splits are calculated for each intersection, and, finally, offsets among the signals are determined. Because these three computation stages are not really independent, the results are often not optimal. This paper describes a new computer method, mixed-integer traffic optimization, designed to optimize simultaneously all the traffic control variables of the network. The method has been programmed in conjunction with the mixed- integer routine of IBM's MPSX optimization system and thus provides a globally optimal procedure. It was applied to several traffic signal networks and is shown to offer certain advantages over existing methods. An example is presented in the paper to illustrate the input requirements, output format, and application of the program.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/596/596-003.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SIMULTANEOUS+OPTIMIZATION+OF+OFFSETS%2c+SPLITS%2c+AND+CYCLE+TIME&author=N.+Gartner&author=J.+Little&author=H.+Gabbay&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Gartner, Nathan H
  • Little, John D C
  • Gabbay, Henry
• Discussers:
  • Ross, Dale W
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 6-15
• Monograph Title: Flow theory
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 596
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Green interval (Traffic signal cycle); Information processing; Offsets (Traffic signal timing); Optimization; Sequencing; Traffic control; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic signal cycle; Traffic signal timing
• Old TRIS Terms: Sequences; Traffic control systems
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149114
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025656
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM