Emerging technologies to enhance traffic signal coordination practices

Emerging technologies and tools play a vital role for advancing the state of practice on signal timing and coordination. The discussions in this chapter primarily focused on addressing the four critical aspects and challenges facing management agencies and signal timing engineers: timing management and documentation, optimization without traffic volumes, trajectory -based timing diagnosis, and performance evaluation. Such emerging technologies and techniques help practitioners economize the laborious processes of the traditional signal timing process. It is anticipated that new technologies will continue to emerge and hold promises for significantly changing how traffic signal control issues are addressed. For example, with connected -vehicle technologies gaining increased market penetration, traffic flows would be predictable and guidable, which allow quicker and more accurate information exchange and signal control response. Although emerging technologies are promising, practitioners should not simply deem that such technologies would automatically achieve better results. A careful investigation before applying any technologies and a comprehensive performance evaluation after the implementation are always necessary.