Multi-Objective Optimization of Traffic Signal Timing at Typical Junctions Based on Genetic Algorithms

With the rapid development of urban road traffic and the increasing number of vehicles,how to alleviate traffic congestion is one of the hot issues that need to be urgently addressed in building smart cities.Therefore,in this paper,a nonlinear multi-objective optimization model of urban intersection signal timing based on a Genetic Algorithm was constructed.Specifically,a typical urban intersection was selected as the research object,and drivers’acceleration habits were taken into account.What’s more,the shortest average delay time,the least average number of stops,and the maximum capacity of the intersection were regarded as the optimization objectives.The optimization results show that compared with the Webster method when the vehicle speed is 60 km/h and the acceleration is 2.5 m/s^(2),the signal intersection timing scheme based on the proposed Genetic Algorithm multi-objective optimization reduces the intersection signal cycle time by 14.6%,the average vehicle delay time by 12.9%,the capacity by 16.2%,and the average number of vehicles stop by 0.4%.To verify the simulation results,the authors imported the optimized timing scheme into the constructed Simulation of the Urban Mobility model.The experimental results show that the authors optimized timing scheme is superior to Webster’s in terms of vehicle average loss time reduction,carbon monoxide emission,particulate matter emission,and vehicle fuel consumption.The research in this paper provides a basis for Genetic algorithms in traffic signal control.

Cell transmission model based traffic signal timing in oversaturated conditions

In order to investigate enhancements to cell transmission model (CTM) as a tool for traffic signal timing in oversaturated conditions, randomly distributed saturation flow rates and arrival rates were used instead of constant values to simulate traffic flow movement, estimate the average delay of the network and search for an optimal traffic signal timing plan. A case study was given to demonstrate that the proposed methodology can capture unique phenomena in oversaturated conditions such as forward wave, spillback and lane entrance blockage. The results show that CTM underestimates travel time by 25% when compared to Simtraffic, while the enhanced CTM underestimates by only 3%. A second case study shows that a dynamic signal timing plan is superior to a fixed signal timing plan in the term of average delay.

A Discrete-Time Stochastic Traffic Assignment Model

A discrete time stochastic traffic assignment model is proposed. The model provides a discrete time description of the variations of flows on a road network during a day or a peak period. The congestion effect at links and link junctions are taken into account. The first in first out principle is enforced on all links at all periods of the day. A stochastic user equilibrium assignment is achieved when the tripmaker is unable to find better travel alternatives. A computational procedure is also presented.

Screening and reconstruction of real-time traffic data

The quality of real time traffic information is of the great importance, therefore the factors having effect on traffic characteristics are analyzed in general, and the necessities of real time data processing are summarized. The identification and reconstruction of real time traffic data are analyzed using Kalman filter equation and statistical approach. Four methods for ITS (Intelligent transportation system) detector data screening in traffic management systems are discussed in detail. Meanwhile traffic data examinations are discussed with solutions formulated through analysis, and recommendations are made for information collection and data management in future.

Bluetooth as a traffic sensor for stream travel time estimation under Bogazici Bosporus conditions in Turkey

Travel time estimation is an integral part of Intelligent Transportation Systems, and has been an important component in traffic management and operations for many years. Travel time, being spatial in nature, requires spatial sensors to measure it accurately. Bluetooth is emerging as a promising technology for the direct measurement of travel time, and is reported in a few studies from homogenous traffic conditions. At the same time, there have been no studies on the applicability of Bluetooth for travel time estimation in heterogeneous traffic seen in Istanbul and even that Turkey. Bluetooth data collected from a busy urban road in Istanbul city have been analyzed and the penetration rate was found to be about 5 %. Two wheelers and light motor vehicles have been detected using the Bluetooth sensor and the data have been extrapolated to estimate travel times of other classes of vehicles. The study developed linear relationships between speeds of different classes of vehicles through weighted linear regression methods and were used for the estimation of stream travel time. The results obtained were promising and show that Bluetooth is a cost-effective technology for estimation of travel time for heterogeneous traffic conditions.

The basic theories of traffic economic belt (TEB)and its life-circle pattern

With the development of productive forces. the space evolution of regional economicSystem keeps closer links with the traffic transport line. A kind of linear space regional scathetic bodyforms constantly and develops rapidly. Relying on the traffic trunk lines, it aggregates and diffusesconstantly.At the same time, it mixes population, industry, town, interflow of commodities, interflowof energy and interflow of information together.This unique space regional synthetic body is calledtraffic economic belt (TEB). In the paper, the basic concepts, types and qualities of TEB wereelaborated and the life-circle theory was put forward creatively.

Dangerous Driving Behavior Recognition and Prevention Using an Autoregressive Time-Series Model

Time headway is an important index used in characterizing dangerous driving behaviors. This research focuses on the decreasing tendency of time headway and investigates its association with crash occurrence. An autoregressive（AR） time-series model is improved and adopted to describe the dynamic variations of average daily time headway. Based on the model, a simple approach for dangerous driving behavior recognition is proposed with the aim of significantly decreasing headway. The effectivity of the proposed approach is validated by means of empirical data collected from a medium-sized city in northern China. Finally, a practical early-warning strategy focused on both the remaining life and low headway is proposed to remind drivers to pay attention to their driving behaviors and the possible occurrence of crash-related risks.

Travel time reliability with and without the dynamic use of hard shoulder:Field assessment from a French motorway

Traffic management aims to ensure a high quality of service for most users by decreasing congestion and increasing safety. However, uncertainty regarding travel time decreases the quality of service and leads end-users to change their routes and schedules even when the average travel time is low, Indicators describing travel time reliability are being developed and should be used in the future both for the optimization and the assessment of active traffic management operation. This paper describes a managed lane experience on a motorway weaving section in France - hard shoulder running operation in rush hours. The paper is focused on travel time reliability indicators and their use for reliability assessment. It provides some discussions about the advantages and drawbacks of reliability indicators under different traffic conditions. It particularly shows the difference between using buffer times and buffer indexes. The paper also discusses the difficulty of interpreting the skew of travel time distribution for travel reliability,