Measures of Effectiveness and Validation Guidance for Adaptive Signal Control Technologies

As part of the Every Day Counts initiative, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is promoting the implementation of Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) to improve traffic signal system operations in the United States. Among the other “low hanging fruit” technologies in the Every Day Counts program (e.g., rumble strips, safety edge), ASCT technology has been in existence for many years but has not seen widespread acceptance. ASCTs have not historically been implemented widely due to their cost and complexity (perceived or real) compounded by a lack of clear documentation of benefits. One reason for the uncertainty about benefits of ASCT is due to the wide variation in cost, complexity, and performance reporting methodologies of evaluation studies for ASCT. In this project, generic measures of effectiveness and validation tools were developed for agencies to validate that selected ASCT meet their performance objectives. In addition, the process and tools can be applied to traditional coordinated-actuated signal timing as well. The report identifies how each of the measures and processes can be used for validation of ASCT. Guidance on improving the state of the practice is provided. This approach was tested at a field site in Mesa, Arizona where an ASCT system has been deployed for over one year. The City of Mesa allowed the test phase to include approximately 30 days during which the ASCT was turned off and background coordination patterns were used instead. Detailed findings for the validation approach are provided in Appendices to the main report.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13031/fhwahop13031.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop13031/index.htm
• Corporate Authors:

  Kimley-Horn and Associates, Incorporated

  7740 North 16th Street, 3rd Floor
  Phoenix, AZ  United States  85020

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Gettman, Douglas
  • Folk, Edward
  • Curtis, Eddie
  • Kacir, Kent
  • Ormand, Dan
  • Mayer, Matthew
  • Flanigan, Erin
• Publication Date: 2013-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 170p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adaptive control; Evaluation and assessment; Field tests; Performance measurement; Traffic signal control systems; Validation
• Geographic Terms: Mesa (Arizona)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01522370
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-HOP-13-031
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-06-D-00004
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 22 2014 3:04PM