Development and Use of Critical Functional Requirements for Controller Upgrade Decisions

Modern traffic signal controllers usually must adapt to local transportation agency requirements. The standardization of controller hardware under advanced transportation controller standards provided flexibility and allowed customized development of controller software. This process resulted in a multitude of market controller software features that are a challenge to evaluate. A decision-support system based on a multi-criteria decision-making technique for the evaluation of traffic signal controllers is presented. The method for evaluating the controllers was based on the set of critical functional requirements for signalized intersections. The method was developed for a signal system at the Virginia Department of Transportation. The critical functional requirements were developed through discussion with professionals in the field of signal system operations across North America. Criteria for scoring the controller features were developed from the information obtained from the controller manuals, vendors, software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, survey of agencies, and so forth. An evaluation of three controllers within the proposed framework is presented, along with decision-support visualization aids. Alternate methods are suggested for evaluation purposes and give opportunities for further research.

[1]  R L Gordon,et al.  Traffic Control Systems Handbook , 1996 .

[2]  Montasir M Abbas,et al.  GIS-Based Multiobjective Optimization Tool for Development of Migration Plan for Next-Generation Controllers , 2012 .

[3]  M. Abbas,et al.  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOFTWARE-INTHE-LOOP SIMULATION FOR ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES IN THE NORTH AMERICAN ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION CONTROLLERS , 2011 .

[4]  Zhen Li,et al.  HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP SIMULATION , 2004 .

[5]  E B Ehlinger.  SUCCESSFUL TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM PROCUREMENT TECHNIQUES: A SUMMARY OF EFFECTIVE PROCESSES , 2002 .

[6]  Dave Miller,et al.  Advanced Transportation Controller Standards and Interoperability , 2010 .

[7]  Milos N. Mladenovic,et al.  Multi-scale integration of Petri Net modeling and Software-in-the-loop simulation for novel approach to assessment of operational capabilities in the advanced transportation controllers , 2011, 2011 14th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC).

[8]  Ching-Lai Hwang,et al.  Fuzzy Multiple Attribute Decision Making - Methods and Applications , 1992, Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems.

[9]  R Rausch,et al.  The New York City, NY, USA, traffic signal system: a standards-based approach , 2005 .

[10]  B. Roy.  Decision-aid and decision-making , 1990 .

[11]  Aleksandar Stevanovic,et al.  Microscopic Modeling of Traffic Signal Operations , 2009 .

[12]  Thierry Marchant,et al.  Evaluation and Decision Models with Multiple Criteria: Stepping Stones for the Analyst , 2006 .

[13]  C. Mcshane,et al.  The Origins and Globalization of Traffic Control Signals , 1999 .

[14]  Ching-Lai Hwang,et al.  Multiple Attribute Decision Making: Methods and Applications - A State-of-the-Art Survey , 1981, Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems.