An iterative approach to enhanced traffic signal optimization

Recent advances in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) provide large quantities of data that can be exploited for the development of improved traffic management systems. However, mining this data to extract useful patterns and information also presents significant challenges. In an earlier presentation we presented a novel method for optimising traffic timing plans via the use of clustering algorithms to automatically generate Time-Of-Day (TOD) intervals. By detecting time intervals which share common traffic conditions, it was possible to obtain TOD intervals which better reflect the underlying generators of traffic patterns. However, the above-mentioned procedure suffers from a problem: the data that is used to find the clusters was generated using the original traffic patterns, which means that the estimates of the true underlying TOD intervals could be inaccurate. In this paper, we present a refinement of the method which is based on iteratively re-estimating the TOD intervals. Experiments have been conducted to test the usefulness of this additional step and the results are presented and discussed in detail.

[1]  Nagui M Rouphail,et al.  Direct Signal Timing Optimization: Strategy Development and Results , 2000 .

[2]  William T. Scherer,et al.  Data–Driven Methodology for Signal Timing Plan Development: A Computational Approach , 2002 .

[3]  Zhiyong Liu,et al.  Urban Traffic Signal Timing Optimization Based on Multi-layer Chaos Neural Networks Involving Feedback , 2005, ICNC.

[4]  Michael G.H. Bell,et al.  Traffic signal timing optimisation based on genetic algorithm approach, including drivers’ routing , 2004 .

[5]  Joseph M. Sussman.  Introduction To Transportation Systems , 2000 .

[6]  Dazhi Sun,et al.  Multi-objective Traffic Signal Timing Optimization Using Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II , 2003, GECCO.

[7]  Anil K. Jain,et al.  Algorithms for Clustering Data , 1988 .

[8]  Haris N. Koutsopoulos,et al.  Simulation Laboratory for Evaluating Dynamic Traffic Management Systems , 1997 .

[9]  Victor R. Lesser,et al.  Using cooperative mediation to coordinate traffic lights: a case study , 2005, AAMAS '05.

[10]  Dazhi Sun,et al.  Multiobjective traffic signal timing optimization using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm , 2003, IEEE IV2003 Intelligent Vehicles Symposium. Proceedings (Cat. No.03TH8683).

[11]  Byungkyu Brian Park,et al.  Enhancement of time of day based traffic signal control , 2003, SMC'03 Conference Proceedings. 2003 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics. Conference Theme - System Security and Assurance (Cat. No.03CH37483).

[12]  G. Anandalingam,et al.  Traffic signal timing at isolated intersections using simulation optimization , 1986, WSC '86.