Distributed adaptive traffic signal control based on shockwave theory

Abstract

Effective signal control with remarkable adaptability is important to constantly changing urban traffic systems. To accommodate diverse traffic conditions, this paper presents a uniform distributed adaptive traffic signal control method. A novel evaluation index termed synthetic delay is elucidated by leveraging shockwave theory. Considering the queue formation and flow changes of incoming traffic, it automatically evaluates control delay and throughput at intersections with distinct significance regarding various traffic conditions. Based on the synthetic delay, a distributed adaptive signal control method is proposed to optimize activated phase at each control stop, while also considering downstream queue length and availability of minor streets. The stability of the proposed method is proved mathematically and experimentally. A case study was conducted in a real-world network in Yangzhou, China during peak hours and off-peak hours. Results show that the method coordinates with adjacent intersections and improves the efficiency of the network under various conditions.