Improving the Performance of Single-Intersection Urban Traffic Networks Based on a Model Predictive Controller

Sadiqa Jafari, Zeinab Shahbazi and Yung-Cheol Byun
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Sadiqa Jafari: Institute of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Engineering, Jeju National University, Jejusi 63243, Korea
Zeinab Shahbazi: Institute of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Engineering, Jeju National University, Jejusi 63243, Korea
Yung-Cheol Byun: Institute of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Engineering, Jeju National University, Jejusi 63243, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: The use of a Model Predictive Controller (MPC) in an urban traffic network allows for controlling the infrastructure of a traffic network and errors in its operations. In this research, a novel, stable predictive controller for urban traffic is proposed and state-space dynamics are used to estimate the number of vehicles at an isolated intersection and the length of its queue. This is a novel control strategy based on the type of traffic light and on the duration of the green-light phase and aims to achieve an optimal balance at intersections. This balance should be adaptable to the unchanging behavior of time and to the randomness of traffic situations. The proposed method reduces traffic volumes and the number of crashes involving cars by controlling traffic on an urban road using model predictive control. A single intersection in Tehran, the capital city of Iran, was considered in our study to control traffic signal timing, and model predictive control was used to reduce traffic. A model of traffic systems was extracted at the intersection, and the state-space parameters of the intersection were designed using the model predictive controller to control traffic signals based on the length of the vehicle queue and on the number of inbound and outbound vehicles, which were used as inputs. This process demonstrates that this method is able to reduce traffic volumes at each leg of an intersection and to optimize flow in a road network compared to the fixed-time method.

Keywords: traffic control; model predictive control (MPC); urban traffic; single intersection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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