Distributed Traffic Signal Optimization at V2X Intersections

Abstract

This paper presents our research on a traffic signal control system (TSCS) at V2X intersections. The overall objective of the study is to create an implementable TSCS. The specific objective of this paper is to investigate a distributed system towards implementation. The objective function of minimizing queue delay is formulated as the integral of queue lengths. The discrete queueing estimation is mixed with macro and micro traffic flow models. The novel proposed architecture alleviates the communication network bandwidth constraint by processing BSMs and computing queue lengths at the local intersection. In addition, a two-stage distributed system is designed to optimize offsets, splits, and cycle length simultaneously and in real time. The paper advances TSCS theories by contributing a novel analytic formulation of delay functions and their first degree of derivatives for a two-stage optimization model. The open-source traffic simulation engine Enhanced Transportation Flow Open-Source Microscopic Model (ETFOMM version 1.2) was selected as a simulation environment to develop, debug, and evaluate the models and the system. The control delay of the major direction, minor direction, and the total network were collected to assess the system performance. Compared with the optimized TSCS timing plan by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the system generated a 21% control delay reduction in the major direction and a 7% control delay reduction in the minor direction at just a 10% penetration rate of connected vehicles. Finally, the proposed distributed and centralized systems present similar performances in the case study.