Development of Methodology for Traffic Signal Timing Optimization Schedule

About the project:

Most research efforts in traffic signal control have been dedicated signal timing optimization development while little research has been conducted to determine appropriate schedule for re-optimizing timing plans. This research will develop a methodology for optimally determining signal timing optimization schedules. Using a case study analysis, this project will look at various factors, including traffic counts and/or turning percentages, and determine how they might trigger or influence a schedule for re-optimizing a current signal timing plan. The proposed methodology will be able to determine key factors (e.g., traffic counts at certain major intersections) and timing (or schedule) for re-optimization. For example, the results from this project could yield a methodology that recommends that xx percent increase in traffic counts at key intersections would indicate a need to re-optimize the current timing plan. By monitoring trends of traffic counts data from deployed ITS system such as NOVA MIST, traffic engineers could then trigger when to re-optimize the current signal timing plan. Such a tool would allow VDOT to operate its signal timing plans at optimal conditions. The proposed methodology will be developed and tested through a subsystem of the Northern Virginia signal system. It is anticipated that the methodology will be easily transferable to other traffic signal systems in the Commonwealth.

Project Team

Principal Investigators