Evaluation of Stochastic Optimization Methods of Traffic Signal Control Settings for Coordinated Actuated Signal Systems

Since Webster developed the principle of traffic signal control optimization theory in late 1950, the field of traffic signal timing control has advanced dramatically for the past a few decades. These include coordinated actuated control and adaptive control on the basis of advances in the detection and communication technologies. However, the existing traffic signal timing optimization program still focuses on the basic four parameters (i.e., cycle, green split, offset, and phase sequence). In addition, these optimization programs do not consider stochastic variability in drivers' behavior and vehicular inter-arrival times, vehicle mix, and so forth. Even though a few research efforts focused on the use of stochastic simulation models, little research was done in the optimization of traffic signal controller settings (e.g., minimum green time, vehicle extension time, minimum vs. maximum recalls) and detector settings (e.g., location and pulse vs. presence modes). This paper presents a stochastic traffic signal optimization method that is consisted of stochastic simulation model and an external optimizer. Three widely used optimization methods (i.e., genetic algorithm, simulated annealing and OptQuest Engine) were considered and tested their performance using test networks. The performance of the proposed stochastic optimization method was compared with existing optimization programs including TRANSTY-7F, and SYNCHRO under microscopic simulation environment. The results indicate that the proposed method outperformed existing programs in the optimization of the basic four parameters, and also showed that additional controller and detector settings can further improve the operations of coordinated actuated signal control systems.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Park, Byungkyu
  • Yun, Ilsoo
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 85th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2006-1-22 to 2006-1-26
• Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 85th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Actuated traffic signal controllers; Optimization; Software; Stochastic processes; Traffic simulation
• Identifier Terms: CORSIM (Traffic simulation model)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01025588
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 06-1251
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 8 2006 11:26AM