Project. Adaptive signals decision support system  Completed

Principal investigator. Dr. Brian L. Smith, University of Virginia, 804-243-8406, bls2z@virginia.edu

External contact. Jeris White, Signal System Manager, VDOT-Northern Virginia District, 4726 West Ox Rd., Fairfax, VA, 703-383-2776

Project objective. Develop decision support system for adaptive traffic signals.

Project abstract. Current large-scale signal systems, such as the Northern Virginia Traffic Signal System, collect tremendous amounts of data describing the condition of the system. At this point in time, most of this data is used off-line to develop new timing plans. There are some real-time, adaptive systems available, but they are far from achieving acceptance in the traffic engineering community. There is a need for an interim support system to ease the transition to more sophisticated adaptive systems.

In this effort, the data collected from system detectors will be analyzed to determine where the system is using timing plans poorly suited for the current conditions. When this occurs, system personnel will be notified so that they can determine if an alternate plan is warranted. To prove the efficacy of this approach, a prototype, web-based system will be developed in the Smart Travel Lab for the Northern Virginia Signal System.

Tasks. 1) Develop a prototype decision support system. 2) Prepare a report detailing the steps whereby this new system was developed.

Milestones. This project will be completed in July 2001.

Student involvement. One part-time GRA will support this effort.

Budget.   $22,000

Relationship to other research projects. This project is a "sister" project to the Signal System Data Mining project described below in the "Data" category.

Technology transfer. The system algorithms will be made available electronically to the transportation community.

Potential benefits. Adaptive traffic signals hold great promise for improved traffic flow under certain conditions, but are not well accepted yet. This project will hopefully speed such acceptance.

TRB keywords. ITS, signals