Proactive Platooning Based on C-V2X to Relieve Congestion at a Signalized Intersection

Nowadays urban traffic congestion becomes a major issue due to the increase in vehicles that lead to more commuting time,accidents,traffic violations,and high fuel consumption.Platooning is a good way to solve traffic congestion because it drives with a smaller inter-vehicle distance than human-driving.This paper proposes proactive platooning based on C-V2X(cellular vehicle-to-everything)to relieve congestion.Proactive platooning reduces the inter-vehicle distance and increases the throughput of signalized intersections through integrating the networked control platooning and computation-centralized platooning.Model and simulation experiments of proactive platooning were conducted to verify the impact of inter-vehicle distance on platooning latency,platooning safety,and traffic throughput.Simulation results show that the optimal inter-vehicle distance under proactive platooning is less than half of human-driving at a signalized intersection.

Characteristics and risk of violation behavior of non-motorists at signalized intersections

Aiming at prevalent violations of non-motorists at urban intersections in China, this paper intends to clarify the characteristics and risks of non-motorist violations at signalized intersections through questionnaires and video recordings, which may serve as a basis for non-motorized vehicle management. It can help improve the traffic order and enhance the degree of safety at signalized intersections. To obtain the perception information, a questionaire survey on the Internet was conducted and 972 valid questionnaires were returned. It is found that academic degree contributes little to non-motorist violations, while electrical bicyclists have a relatively higher frequency of violations compared with bicyclists. The video data of 18 228 non-motorist behaviors indicate that the violation rate of all non-motorists is 26.5%; the number of conflicts reaches 1 938, among which violation conflicts account for 66.8%. The study shows that the violation rates and the violation behavior at three types of surveyed intersections are markedly different. It is also concluded that the conflict rates and the violation rates are positively correlated. Furthermore, signal violation, traveling in the wrong direction, and overspeeding to cross the intersection are the most dangerous among traffic violation behaviors.

Method for pedestrian signal timing at signalized intersections

The pedestrian timing at signalized intersections is studied aiming at the problems of the inconsistency of the vehicular and pedestrian timing requirements and the insufficiency of pedestrian clearance. Based on the formulae of WALK and flashing DON＇T WALK （FDW） in the highway capacity manual （HCM）, the relationship between pedestrian signal indications and vehicular signal indications is discussed using the theory of traffic flow. Then, methods of pedestrian timing for different cases are established, particularly the methods of the pedestrian green adjustment. Ways of pedestrian crossing are analyzed for roadways with different forms and widths of the median island. The sampling values of calculation parameters are studied, and the recommended formulae of pedestrian timing for different conditions are presented.

Multi-phase signal setting and capacity of signalized intersection

A capacity model of multi-phase signalized intersections is derived by a stopping-line method. It is simplified with two normal situations： one situation involves one straight lane and one left-turn lane; the other situation involves two straight lanes and one left-turn lane. The results show that the capacity is mainly relative to signal cycle length, phase length, intersection layout and following time. With regard to the vehicles arrival rates, the optimal model is derived based on each phase＇s remaining time balance, and it is solved by Lagrange multipliers. Therefore, the calculation models of the optimal signal cycle length and phase lengths are derived and simplified. Compared to the existing models, the proposed model is more convenient and practical. Finally, a practical intersection is chosen and its signal cycles and phase lengths are calculated by the proposed model.

Analytical method of minimum spacing of signalized intersections on bidirectional two-lane highways

In order to improve the smoothness of traffic flow on bidirectional two-lane highways, an analytical method is proposed to optimize the minimum spacing of the signalized intersections. The minimum signal spacing is determined by two parts, including the necessary distance for stabilizing the traffic flow after it passes through the signalized intersections and the length of the upstream functional area of intersection. For the former, based on the platoon dispersion theory, the stable distance determination problem of traffic flow is studied and a model of dispersion degrees varying with the distance from the upstream intersection is presented, in which the time headway is intended to yield the shifted negative exponential distribution. The parameters of the model for medal and collector highways are estimated respectively based on the field data. Then, the section at which the slope of dispersion degree curve equals -0.1 is regarded as the beginning of the dispersion stable state. The length of the intersection upstream functional area is determined by three parts, including the distance traveled during perception-reaction time, the distance traveled while a driver decelerates to a stop, and the queue storage length. Based on the above procedures, the minimum signal spacing of each highway category is proposed.

Study on the model of pedestrian cross-time in signalized intersection

For studying the law of pedestrian cross-time in the signalized intersection, based on gap theory, a probability chorological discipline model of crossing pedestrians is built based on the observed data. Moreover, the number of pedestrians passing through in a critical gap is estimated under different conditions by three models. Then the models of pedestrian crosswalk average time, the 85th percentile pedestrian cross-time and the 90th percentile pedestrian cross-time are deduced. By quantitative analyses and the exemplification of the models, the main correlative factors acting on pedestrian cross-time are found, including the length of the crosswalk, the probability of the time-headway being less than the critical gap and the number of the turned motor vehicles in the intersection. The results indicate that the estimated errors of the models are less than 5%.

基于VISSIM仿真的交叉口交通组织优化研究

信号交叉口作为城市道路的咽喉,提高其通行能力可以有效改善道路整体交通状况。文章选取江门市迎宾路-丰乐路-东华二路交叉口为实例,基于实地调查的高峰时段交通流量及交叉口相关数据,利用VISSIM软件构建交叉口的交通仿真模型,针对仿真运行结果从车道功能划分和信号配时两方面提出交通组织优化设计方案,对优化前后的车辆延误、排队长度仿真结果进行对比分析。结果表明,经优化后车辆延误和排队长度都大幅减少,交叉口的服务水平明显提升,交通状况得到了明显改善,从而验证了优化方案的合理性和有效性。

Effects of behavioral characteristics of taxi drivers on safety and capacity of signalized intersections

Comparative analyses were conducted to compare the effects of the behavioral characteristics of the drivers of taxis and private cars on the capacity and safety of signalized intersections. Data were collected at sixteen signalized intersections in the Nanjing area in China. The risk-taking behaviors of the drivers of taxis and private cars were compared. The results suggest that 19.9% of taxi drivers have committed at least one of the identified risky behaviors, which is 2.37 times as high as that of the drivers of private cars(8.4%). The traffic conflicts technique was used to estimate the safety effects of taxis and private cars. The overall conflict rate for taxis is 21.4% higher than that for private cars, implying that taxis are more likely to be involved in conflicts. Almost all of the identified traffic conflicts can be attributed to certain levels of risk-taking behaviors committed by either taxi drivers or the drivers of private cars, and taxi drivers are more likely to be at fault in a conflict. Failure to yield to right-of-way and improper lane change is the leading causes of the conflicts in which taxis are at-fault. The research team further studied the effects of taxis on the queue discharge characteristics at signalized intersections. The results show that the presence of taxis significantly reduces both start-up lost time and saturation headways. The effects of taxis on saturation flow rates are dependent on the proportion of taxis in the discharge flow, and the saturation flow rates increase with the increase in the proportion of taxis. The adjustment factors for various proportions of taxis for different turning movements are then calculated to quantitatively evaluate the effects of taxis on the capacity of signalized intersections.

Optimal allocation model of signalized intersections with dynamic use of exit lanes for left turn

In order to improve the operational efficiency of heavy left-turn demand intersections,an optimal allocation model of an intersection with dynamic use of exit lanes for left turns(EFL)is proposed.The constraints of setting EFL are analyzed,including the number and length of reverse variable lanes,flow direction constraints,and signal constraints,etc.The constraints and control variables are combined in a unified framework for simultaneous optimization.The objective functions are defined as the average delay and left-turn capacity of an intersection.The model is solved by a non-dominated genetic algorithm(NSGA-Ⅱ).The results show that after the optimal allocation of EFL,the average vehicle delays of the intersection can be reduced by 14.9%and left-turn capacity can be increased by 19.3%.The effectiveness of the optimal allocation model of EFL is demonstrated.

Effects of flashing green on driver's stop/go decision at signalized intersection

The primary objective of this work is to explore how drivers react to flashing green at signalized intersections. Through video taping and data procession based on photogrammetry, the operating speeds of vehicles before and after the moment when flashing green started was compared using paired-samples T-test. The critical distances between go and stop decisions was defined through cumulative percentage curve. The boundary of dilemma zone was determined by comparing stop distance and travel distance.Amber-running violation was analyzed on the basis of the travel time to the stop line. And finally, a logistic model for stop and go decisions was constructed. The results shows that the stopping ratios of the first vehicles of west-bound and east-bound approaches are 41.3% and 39.8%, respectively; the amber-light running violation ratios of two approaches are 31.6% and 25.4%, respectively;the operating speed growth ratios of first vehicles selecting to cross intersection after the moment when flashing green started are26.7% and 17.7%, respectively; and the critical distances are 48 m and 46 m, respectively, which are close to 44 m, the boundary of dilemma zone. The developed decision models demonstrate that the probability of go decision is higher when the distance from the stop line is shorter or operating speed is higher. This indicates that flashing green is an effective way to enhance intersection safety,but it should work together with a strict enforcement. In addition, traffic signs near critical distance and reasonable speed limitation are also beneficial to the safety of intersections.

Pedestrian perception-based level-of-service model at signalized intersection crosswalks

Pedestrian level of service(PLOS)is an important measure of performance in the analysis of existing pedestrian crosswalk conditions.Many researchers have developed PLOS models based on pedestrian delay,turning vehicle effect,etc.,using the conventional regression method.However,these factors may not effectively reflect the pedestrians'perception of safety while crossing the crosswalk.The conventional regression method has failed to estimate accurate PLOS because of the primary assumption of an arbitrary probability distribution and vagueness in the input data.Moreover,PLOS categories in existing studies are based on rigid threshold values and the boundaries that are not well defined.Therefore,it is an important attempt to develop a PLOS model with respect to pedestrian safety,convenience,and efficiency at signalized intersections.For this purpose,a video-graphic and user perception surveys were conducted at selected nine signalized intersections in Mumbai,India.The data such as pedestrian,traffic,and geometric characteristics were extracted,and significant variables were identified using Pearson correlation analysis.A consistent and statistically calibrated PLOS model was developed using fuzzy linear regression analysis.PLOS was categorized into six levels(A–F)based on the predicted user perception score,and threshold values for each level were estimated using the fuzzy c-means clustering technique.The developed PLOS model and threshold values were validated with the fieldobserved data.Statistical performance tests were conducted and the results provided more accurate and reliable solutions.In conclusion,this study provides a feasible alternative to measure pedestrian perception-based level of service at signalized intersections.The developed PLOS model and threshold values would be useful for planning and designing pedestrian facilities and also in evaluating and improving the existing conditions of pedestrian facilities at signalized intersections.

Compact passing algorithm for signalized intersection management based on vehicular network

To improve the traffic efficiency at signalized intersections, a compact passing algorithm is proposed based on a vehicular network. Its basic principle is that several waiting vehicles after the stop line of the considered intersection should simultaneously start in green periods. Thus, more vehicles can pass the intersection in a green period. Then, the having passed vehicles should follow the planned trajectories to enlarge their longitudinal clearances. Phase timing is not considered in the compact passing algorithm, and therefore, the proposed compact passing algorithm can be combined with other algorithms on phase timing to further improve their performances. Several simulations were designed and performed to verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can increase the number of completed vehicles and decrease the travel time in the signalized intersections managed by fixed-time and vehicle actuated algorithms, which indicates that the proposed algorithm is effective for improving the traffic efficiency at common signalized intersections.

Study on Geometric Factors Influencing Saturation Flow Rate at Signalized Intersections under Heterogeneous Traffic Conditions

The main objective of intersection design is to facilitate the convenience, comfort, and safety of people traversing the intersection by enhancing the efficient movement of road users. The intersections on urban roads in India generally cater to heterogeneous motorized traffic, along with slow-moving traffic including pedestrians. It is therefore necessary to consider saturation flow for mixed traffic conditions to evaluate the overall operation of signalized intersections. A proper traffic model must consider varying characteristics of all the road users to effectively design and efficiently manage signalized intersections. This paper presents the results of the study on analyses of saturation flow rate conducted at signalized intersections with mixed traffic conditions in the city of Bangalore, India. Studies were carried out at 15 signalized intersections in the city of Bangalore with varying geometric factors such as width of road (w), gradient of the road (g), and turning radius (r) for right turning vehicles. Saturation flow rate computed as per Highway Capacity manual (HCM: 2000), Indonesian highway capacity manual (IHCM), and IRC SP: 41-1994 was compared with the field observations. The geometric factors, which affect the saturation flow, have been considered in this study and accordingly a new model has been proposed for determining saturation flow. It has been shown that by the introduction of the suggested adjustment factors in this paper, the saturation flow rate can give better picture of the field conditions, especially under heterogeneous traffic conditions of an urban area.

Development and Testing of an Automatic Turning Movement Identification System at Signalized Intersections

Vehicle turning movement data from signalized intersections is utilized for numerous applications in the field of transportation. Such applications include real-time adaptive signal control, dynamic traffic assignment, and traffic demand estimation. However, it is very time consuming and costly to obtain vehicle turning movement information manually. Previous efforts to simplify this process were focused on solving the problem using an O-D matrix, but this method proved to be inaccurate and unreliable with the existing data acquisition system. Another study involved the identification of vehicle turning movements from the detector information, but the presence of shared lanes led to uncertainties in vehicle matching, thus limiting application of the method only to intersections without shared lanes. In light of those unsuccessful attempts, this paper develops and tests a system called the Automatic Turning Movement Identification System (ATMIS), which estimates vehicle turning movements at a signalized intersection in real time, regardless of its geometry. The results from lab experiments as well as a field test show that the algorithm is very promising and may potentially be expanded for field applications.

基于VISSIM仿真的城市信号交叉口优化设计

信号交叉口是限制车流消散的主要瓶颈,是导致城市道路交通拥堵的主要节点,对其优化设计逐渐成为研究热点。针对南京市中央路-湖南路交叉口存在的转弯半径过小、交通流量饱和、路口间距过短等问题,提出渠化车道、增加禁止掉头标志、增加相邻路口右转信号控制、增加相邻路口相位的优化方案,运用韦伯斯特模型计算各相位的信号配时方案,使用VISSIM仿真软件对设计方案实施前后的效果进行对比。结果表明:实施优化方案后,平均排队长度由12.96 m减少为11.3 m,减少12.81%;车辆平均延误由44.36 s减少到39.48 s,减少11%;平均停车次数由1.15次减少到0.96次,减少16.52%。对南京市中央路-湖南路交叉口提出的优化方案是合理的、有效的,研究结果对方案落地实施具有指导作用。

基于VISSIM交叉口仿真的信号配时优化研究

随着交通压力的增加,为了缓解交通压力,提高交叉口通行能力,改善交叉口交通状况,以昆明市白龙路-南院路交叉口为研究对象,采用Webster信号配时法优化此目标交叉口信号配时以降低车辆延误时间、排队长度及对环境的污染等。通过VISSIM仿真分析交叉口,对比优化前后的平均排队长度、延误时间、一氧化碳排放量、氮氧化合物排放量、停车时间等数据。结果表明:在实现Webster算法后,车辆平均排队长度减少25%、延误时间减少23%、一氧化碳排放减少6.9%、氮氧化合物排放下降6.9%、停车时间下降24.7%,优化交叉口信号配时在一定程度上缓解了交叉口通行压力,明显改善了城市交通状况。

Incorporating nonuniform arrivals in delay variability modeling at signalized intersections

The delay vehicles experience at signalized intersections is one of the most important indicators for measuring intersection performance. The interpretation of delay variability evolvement at intersections gives a comprehensive insight into arterial traffic operation. Thus, an analytical model is proposed to investigate delay variability at coordinated intersections. Two different flow rates are assumed for both effective red and green periods in cumulative curves, through which the effect of signal coordination is incorporated in delay estimation. Then, an analogy of Markov chain process is used to explore the mechanism of stochastic overflow queue at signalized intersections. Numerical case studies show that with the decrease of arrival proportions during green, the shape of delay distribution in both undersaturation and oversaturation cases shifts faster towards higher values, implying that the coordination effect between paired intersections has a great effect on the delay distribution. As for delay fluctuation range, favorable coordination is demonstrated to be able to weaken the variability of delay estimates especially for undersaturation conditions.

Estimation of Probability of Swarming Pedestrians' Violation at Signalized Intersections in Developing Cities

We made an on-site investigation about pedestrian violation of traffic signals at a signalized intersection in Xi＇an, Shaanxi province, China. Based on it, we studied the impact of pedestrian＇s waiting time on violation decision and the impact of the number of pedestrians in colony on the probability of swarming pedestrians＇ violation. The result revealed that the probability of pedestrian violation rose with the waiting time for the pedestrians＇ green signal. Then we developed a Monte Carlo model for simulating mixed vehicles and pedestrians and used the on-site investigation data to validate the model. When traffic volume is fight, the error between the simulated values and the measured ones is 2.67%. When traffic volume is heavy, the error is 3.38%.

Examination of Signalized Intersections According to Australian and HCM （Highway Capacity Manual） Methods Using Sidra Intersection Software

Signalized intersections are widely used in today＇s cities where the traffic flows from various directions and the pedestrians have right to pass one by one. In this study, two of the intersections in Konya were investigated, Kule and Nalgacl-Sille signalized intersections. The intersections are important in terms of urban traffic. New cycle times were proposed with the aim to minimize delays and to increase the capacities and level of services in these intersections. The intersections were examined using Sidra Intersection 5.1 software based on the Australian methods. Also, signalization calculations can be made according to the American HCM （Highway Capacity Manual） methods by using the same software. The intersection analyses were performed using both methods based on the current cycle times and optimum cycle times proposed by the methods. The obtained analytical results were compared and some solutions were suggested. After analysis, the obtained values using the Australian and American methods were observed to be close. Additionally, the decrease in the delays and the increase in the capacities at the intersections were generally observed as a result of the proposed cycle times.

Pedestrian Crash Prediction Models and Validation of Effective Factors on Their Safety (Case Study: Tehran Signalized Intersections)

The quantity and severity of traffic accidents have increased with the development of machinery life and traffic growth in cities and roads in the past 50 years. Among the road users, pedestrians are the most vulnerable groups to be exposed to high risks. Vehicle crashes with pedestrian are almost inevitable and cause injury or death to pedestrian. Crash investigation and statistical studies indicate that percentage of pedestrian deaths caused by vehicle accidents are much more than all deaths. A considerable amount of accidents occur at signalized and urban intersections which are the intensive crash places. Therefore in this paper appropriate models that could specify safety indicators have been indicated with existing information by characterized parametric and nonparametric variables for twenty signalized intersections. Categories and correlations of variables also have been investigated. Three models including Regression, Poisson, and Negative binomial with defined variables have been determined. T and chi square tests, calibration and comparison of variables have been done by curve fitting. The role of each parameter was specified in pedestrian crashes. Validating models had the following outcomes: Pedestrian crash prediction models were based on none linear relations at intersections. Predictable variables, developing extended linear models and also pedestrian crash prediction are on the basis of Negative binomial distribution which is used due to more data dispersion. As observed, the Negative binomial regression because of its more R2 correlation factor has more validity among other regression models such as linear regression and Poisson. Calibrated models are put into sensitivity analysis to study the effect of each previously mentioned parameter in overall performance. Hence much better perception of future transportation plans can be achieved by development of safety models at planning levels.