On a Simulation Model in Heavy Traffic and Its Application to Optimal Control of Traffic Signals

It is important to optimize the splits as well as the offsets of signal coordination in heavy traffic. The traffic model considering the queues at signalized intersections is required to analyze the optimization of signal control under the condition that the traffic is nearly saturated. Since the existing traffic models, such as TRANSYT, do not contain the modelling of the queues. Therefore in this paper, a traffic flow model considering the existence and the dynamic fluctuation of the queue lengths is developed. The traffic flow model is a macro simulation in which the traffic flow is supposed to be a compressible fluid. By using this simulation model, the traffic phenomina on the study section of the street are reproduced, the criterion such as the total delay is evaluated and the optimization of the offsets is performed so as to minimize the total delay.